The last physical link to the Elephant Man – a Rose Stone from Gaiety Theatre
A stone from the theatre where the Elephant Man once appeared as part of a freak show has been listed for sale on eBay. The online auction is managed by The Friends of Joseph Merrick, a group dedicated to raising awareness of Joseph Merrick’s story and Proteus Syndrome, the extremely rare disease suffered by Merrick, considered to be the most deformed man in history. Merrick’s life was featured in the 1980 film ‘The Elephant Man’ starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins.
In March of 2009, the city of Leicester, UK lost one of its greatest historical monuments: The Gaiety Theatre. The theatre was the first venue where Merrick appeared as a “curiosity”
This is one of the few remaining tangible connections to Merrick’s life and an authentic example of true 19th century Victorian architecture. The flat bas-relief stone measures 12"x12"x2.5”
Jeff Timmons, a senior officer for the group, said: “We’re hoping to raise a generous amount for the Proteus Syndrome Foundation because we know how important it is to the families currently affected by this disorder”. The auction can be found on ebay.co.uk by searching “Joseph Rose Stone”.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
