Gotham's 200th Anniversary Parade Clown Balloon Model Miniature

Catalogue copy

A Gotham's 200th Anniversary Parade clown balloon model miniature from Tim Burton's Batman. During Gotham's 200th Anniversary Parade, the Joker (Jack Nicholson) tried to use giant clown balloons to gas the citizens of Gotham City, only to be thwarted by Batman (Michael Keaton) collecting and releasing the balloons using the Batwing.

Tim Burton's idiosyncratic directing style contributed to some of the most unique moments in the Batman franchise. In 1990, production designer Anton Furst and set decorator Peter Young picked up the Academy Award® for Best Art Direction - Set Decoration for their work on this film. Derek Meddings, the British special effects legend known for his work on Gerry Anderson's "Supermarionation" projects, the James Bond film franchise, and the Superman films starring Christopher Reeve, was the visual effects supervisor on Burton's Batman, overseeing model miniature sequences such as the parade scene.

Custom-made for the film, this latex rubber balloon features its tungsten wires used for suspension and a silver-color painted cord is also included. This cord allowed the balloon to be hung and appear as though it was tethered to a carnival vehicle. As a miniature, the balloon was designed for close-up shots. The balloon exhibits staining and several repairs with tape and peeling to the surface of its colored lines, as well as fragile paint that flakes off in some places. The balloon still inflates but is unable to hold air for a long duration of time due to a number of small leaks throughout. It may be possible to repair the leaks.