PRODUCTION-USED XENOMORPH HEAD FROM THE CARLO RAMBALDI ARCHIVES

An original Xenomorph creature head from the production of Ridley Scott’s Alien (20th Century Fox, 1979), from the Carlo Rambaldi Archives.

This Xenomorph head is composed of a fiberglass material, polyester  resin, and includes a clear acrylic dome. The main structure of the head  has been spray-painted with lacquer and acrylic paint to resemble bone,  and features matte black components. The head has been mounted to a  base for display purposes.  

This head casting was fabricated by the famed Shepperton Design  Studios from an original design by Academy Award-winning artist H.R.  Giger, and featured hand-applied make-up effects enhancements by  three-time Academy Award winner Carlo Rambaldi. Rambaldi was also  engaged to project the mechanical retractable mouth of the Xenomorph  head. 

This exact head can be seen on the set of the film in various vintage  black & white photographs taken during the production phase of  Alien at Rambaldi's effects lab. This photo shows the head coated in a  slime-like substance, indicating that it was likely used to test  different special effects techniques to achieve the effect seen in the  final production of the film.  This prop was photo-matched to on set  photos of Carlo Rambaldi working on the head during production.  The  slime, the broken tubing, the uniquely cut neck and other details match  these photos provided by the Rambaldi Archives.  Comparison side-by-side  photos are provided showing the on set photos compared to the  pre-restoration photos.  During the restoration process completed in  2023, the slime features were removed to restore the prop to its  intended film appearance.

This original Xenomorph head casting has been fully restored by the  expert team at Blok4, who’s highly detailed process has preserved this  piece for years to come. The team began by stripping and cleaning the  Xenomorph head of its post-production applied visual effects in the form  of paint and debris. Blok4 then began recreating from another original  production example important snap clips for minor components that were  missing or that needed to be replaced. Using a skilled fiberglass  craftsman, the team was able to strengthen the integrity of the head and  repair the worn interior. After the repair stage had been completed,  the head was then sanded and spray-painted, closely following the  original design direction from the film. Also added during the  restoration was a new clear dome, also cast from an existing original  production used example.

This Xenomorph head, which was cast during the production of the film, was referred to by Rambaldi as a “Long Shot Head."