Offered is the gold World War I era pith helmet worn by Tommy Lee Jones as "Clay Shaw" in the 1991 Oliver Stone political assassination thriller JFK. The film examines the events leading to the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy and alleged cover-up through the eyes of former New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner). Garrison filed charges against New Orleans businessman Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones) for his alleged participation in a conspiracy to assassinate the President. During the film, Costner's character Garrison recounts the events of a party that Clay Shaw had thrown in his New Orleans home where he was painted in gold from head to toe wearing nothing by the offered pith helmet and a loin cloth for a photo shoot in an erotic attempt to look like the Greek God Hermes. Tommy Lee Jones strikes quite a figure in the flashback!
The helmet is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from The Golden Closet. The helmet emanates from Palace Costume Company, which has provided wardrobe for film and television productions for decades. The letter reads:
JFK, WW I Pith Helmet Worn by "Clay Shaw" (Tommy Lee Jones). This gold helmet was worn by the character “Clay Shaw” portrayed by actor Tommy Lee Jones in "JFK" directed by Oliver Stone. The WWI pith helmet has two bird wings attached, braided hat band, and is spray painted gold.
The helmet was worn in the flash back sequence when Garrison is interviewing Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones) regarding his relationship with Willie O'Keef (Kevin Bacon) and David Ferrie (Joe Pesci). Garrison relays information about a party that occurred in Clay Shaw's home in the French Quarter. Clay Shaw, David Ferrie, and Willie O'Keef dressed up in costumes; Clay Shaw was painted gold and wore this helmet and loincloth. Palace Costume Company leased this item directly to the production company for the use in the movie.
The letter is signed by Palace Costume Company CEO Melody Barnett. Palace Costume was contracted to provide wardrobe for the film. LOAs from The Golden Closet are some of the most respected in the world of entertainment wardrobe, costumes and props. Starting in the the late 1940s, Golden Closet CEO Breanna Livie's grandfather, Charles James, worked as a costumer for the major studios for over 40 years. After many of the studios disbanded and sold off their costume and wardrobe departments in the 1970s, James and Breanna's father, James Livie, formed Costume Rentals Corporation, one of the first independent movie costume companies. And in 1990, James Livie formed Eastern Costume Company. In 1996, having gained her own extensive experience and familiarity with wardrobe and prop departments through her family, Breanna founded The Golden Closet.
The helmet is also accompanied by an inventory tags from Palace Costume and The Golden Closet. It measures 12 inches in diameter and is quite heavy, being made of metal. The helmet has most likely been repainted more than once and had feathers replaced for subsequent uses in other films or television productions, but remnants of the bright, metallic gold paint used on the helmet for JFK can still be seen on the underside of the brim. Excellent condition.