David Lynch’s Objects & Aura

There’s an auction for personal items from the life and work of the late filmmaker David Lynch. I’m relieved to not harbor much of an attachment to objects that are accompanied by what Walter Benjamin might have described as the aura of previous ownership — all the more so given the apparent uptick in price such an aura can incur.

However, given Lynch’s extended interest both in sound and in music-making, I was intrigued by what may be for sale, so I scrolled through the auction listings. In addition to lots of guitars (including a four-in-one combo) and guitar pedals, and even a Stylophone and a hybrid Indian instrument called a Swar Sangam, a few things did stand out:

A solid-state Moviola 1027C Tape Reader:

A 1930s Western Electric RA-1142 transmitter ribbon microphone, in a quite awesome sound department case:

A Theremin by Tony Bassett of No.1 Electronics. Note the “Space Trip Passport” on the rear further below:

The auction begins June 18, 2025, at 10am Pacific Time in Los Angeles at juliensauctions.com.