When most people think of Indiana Jones, the first image that pops up is Harrison Ford wearing his signature fedora. The hat became an iconic character itself within the franchise, gaining a tag line on 1989’s poster for The Last Crusade: “The man with the hat is back!” Indy was even willing to risk his life to grab his signature accessory, snagging it back from beneath a descending door in 1984’s Temple of Doom.
So it came as no surprise that Propstore, a film and TV memorabilia company, revealed it had sold one of Indiana Jones’ screen-and-photo-matched fedoras for an outstanding $630,000. While Indiana Jones wore multiple fedoras throughout the five films, this particular topper was from The Temple of Doom.
Propstore’s backstory on the hat notes it was crafted by the Herbert Johnson Hat Company in London, and was designed by Johnson with Temple of Doom costume designers Anthony Powell and Joanna Johnston. It’s a slightly tweaked design compared to the hat seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and according to the auction house, it “matches film shots, production stills, and behind-the-scenes footage of Ford in the village set on location in Sri Lanka, in the mine cart chase shot at Elstree Studios, and in the river sequence shot in the U.S. The hat was also worn by the late stunt performer Dean Ferrandini.”
The auction catalog gives this detailed description: “The fedora is made of sable-colored rabbit felt and features a dark brown ribbon and a leather sweatband imprinted with the Herbert Johnson Hat Company name and address, as well as a tag marked size 7 1/4 (size 59 European.) The sweatband is notably stamped with the initials ‘I J’ in gold, a feature applied specifically to the hats Herbert Johnson made for the three original installments of the Indiana Jones saga. It also features some makeup residue at the front of the sweatband. The style, placement, and size of the markings are all consistent with other known authentic examples of Temple of Doom fedoras.”
The hat was previously owned by Ferrandini, who died last year, and the auction lot also included unpublished photos of Ferrandini in his Indiana Jones costumes and a letter of authenticity signed by his wife.
Propstore’s current auction of entertainment memorabilia contains more than 1,400 additional lots—including more Indiana Jones curios, such as this unsettling “Roasted Pig and Piglets Banquet Dish” prop from a deleted Temple of Doom scene—and runs through August 18. Interested participants can place bids online or via telephone by visiting https://propstore.com/liveauction.
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