A special effects axe wielded by Jack Nicholson in the iconic 1980 horror film The Shining is set to go on sale, as part of an auction featuring the personal archive of the influential director Stanley Kubrick. This axe, famously used during Nicholson's chilling line "Here’s Johnny!", is expected to fetch between £30,000 and £50,000.

Auction Details

The axe is not just a prop; it plays a critical role in the film as Jack Torrance, portrayed by Nicholson, uses it to break through a locked door to reach his terrified wife Wendy, played by Shelley Duvall. It is also the murder weapon in the death of Dick Hallorann, played by Scatman Crothers.

The auction, hosted by Bonhams in London on February 3, will include hundreds of items from Kubrick's personal collection. Among the notable lots are:

  • Two sky-blue dresses worn by the twin sisters Alexa and Alexie Grady in a memorable scene.
  • A clapperboard from The Shining, one of four from Kubrick's films, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Barry Lyndon, and Eyes Wide Shut.