Breaking Bad Hazmat Suit (Walter White)
Television memorabilia / Costume / Mixed media installation • Kathleen Detoro (Costume Designer for Breaking Bad), likely manufactured by DuPont (Tychem models).
Style & Movement
Contemporary Pop Culture / Television Realism / Applied Arts
Medium & Technique
Tyvek fabric (synthetic high-density polyethylene fibers), rubber respirator, plastic mask, and industrial filters; manufactured industrial garment assembly.
Creation Period
Circa 2008–2013
Dimensions & Format
Life-sized (approx. 180-190 cm height in display); vertical mannequin format.
Subject Description
A full-body yellow hazardous materials suit with matching booties and a gas mask respirator. The piece symbolizes the character Walter White's descent into the methamphetamine trade and represents the visual identity of the critically acclaimed series 'Breaking Bad'.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Excellent; well-preserved in a museum-controlled environment.
Estimated Market Value
$50,000 - $100,000 (based on high-demand iconic screen capsules and historical significance of the show).
Auction Estimate
$40,000 - $80,000
Provenance History
Production-used costume from Sony Pictures Television; subsequently donated to/acquired by the National Museum of American History (Smithsonian Institution).
Art Historical Significance
A defining artifact of 21st-century 'Golden Age' television. It represents the intersection of chemistry and crime, and its inclusion in the Smithsonian collection marks its importance as a physical record of American cultural storytelling.
Notable Features
Features the iconic pink filters on the respirator; associated with the Smithsonian Institution as indicated by the bilingual English/Spanish gallery labels.
Condition Issues
Potential minor creasing inherent to Tyvek material; possible slight discoloration of the plastic mask due to UV exposure or natural aging of polymers.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain in a temperature and humidity-controlled environment (45-55% RH); utilize UV-filtered acrylic or glass casing to prevent polymer degradation; use acid-free archival mannequin support.