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Prop Store Sept 2015 Auction |
| There's an interesting auction coming to London
in the shape of the Prop Store Of London's "Entertainment
Memorabilia Live" at the Odeon BFI IMAX in Waterloo on September 23rd. There
are over 450 movie props, helmets and costume pieces due to be sold - spanning a range of
classic films including Superman, Star Trek and of course, Star Wars.
Prior to the auction there's a two-week museum-grade exhibition of a number
of key items due to go under the hammer - which is completely FREE to enter.
So if you're in or around London at this time then there's absolutely no
reason why you wont want to take a look.
From our perspective there are a number of pieces that caught our
attention, some of which we've featured in detail below... |
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ESB "Type II" Stormtrooper
Helmet |
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| First up is a Stormtrooper helmet, described as
one of the illusive "MK II" helmets from The Empire Strikes Back. The
auction doesn't state whether they are able to confirm whether its a
screen-used helmet or not - but either way a very nice piece. A number of
years back we did some work on trying to get more detail on the MK II
Stormtroopers - and
you can read all about them in this section here... |
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| The vast majority of the Stormtrooper helmets in
ESB were the same "Stunt" style helmet used in ANH (with a quick make-over),
hence were white-painted vac-formed khaki coloured HDPE plastic. However,
the “Mk II” styles were constructed of white vac-formed
ABS (so didn't need painting) - and the mould for hem came from an original
ANH helmet. The eye lenses for the MK II's were also different from the
standard ESB's seen on-screen as had
green acrylic bubble lenses like the ANH Hero's - instead of flat green
acetate lenses. |
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| More detail on this MK II helmet provided by the
Prop Store..."The face plate “tusks” are made of white resin
with metal vent sections installed at the front. Rubber trim is present at
the helmet’s neck opening, and a replacement rubber trim piece is applied to
the helmet’s brow. Black paint is applied to the chin and mouth vent with
decals applied to the helmet’s cheeks and temples. A foam lining is
present for comfort during wear." |
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| What we now know of as the “Mk II” style ESB
Stormtroopers were created quite late into the production of Empire
when the production execs felt the recycled-ANH costumes were starting to
look a bit dog-eared with paint flaking, chips and cracks. |
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| This one is in pretty decent condition for its
age, just missing its left ear/communicator. So if you want to take a closer
look at this helmet (and all the props for sale in the auction) then make
you way to the Odeon BFI IMAX in Waterloo, London some time during the
two-weeks preceding the auction on September 23rd. . |
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RotJ Anakin Skywalker life-cast and facial
appliance |
Next up a Return of the Jedi facial appliance
and lifecast for Sebastian Shaw's Anakin Skywalker. These film-used
appliances were worn by the Sebastian Shaw when Luke (Mark Hamill) unmasked
his father near the end of the film. All fans of the OT will know that it
was Sebastian Shaw, not Dave Prowse who was cast as the face of the original
(and only as far as we're concerned) Anakin Skywalker. |
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| The scar appliances are made of foam latex that
is adhered to a rubber bald cap fitted for Sebastian Shaw. The bald cap is
painted a pale skin colour with the scars resembling melted skin that has
healed over time. The largest scar extends from the top of the scalp to the
back of the head, while a smaller scar extends under Anakin’s left eye. |
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| The scar appliance bald cap is fitted to a
lifecast of Sebastian Shaw which was cast during the production. Made of
plaster, the lifecast is mounted to a wood base that is wrapped in black
fabric. |
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| This lot shows minor wear to the appliances due
to production use and age; however it remains overall in very good
condition. |
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ESB Rebel Trooper Hat
Here's something we've not seen before - a Rebel Trooper's hat from The Empire
Strikes Back - as worn by a Rebels during the fight scenes on the frozen
planet of Hoth. |
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| It's made of a thick white cotton material, the hat
has a stiffened peak with padded front and sides, a Velcro chin strap and a
series of beige cotton flaps and loops to secure the straps for the
troopers’ goggles. The headgear has been distressed for use with stains and
dirt applied to give it a hard-worn look from use in battle. |
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| As part of the auction sale, the hat comes supplied with a custom made
display base and an autographed promotional still of Mark Hamill wearing a
Rebel trooper hat in The Empire Strikes Back. Well used in the production,
the hat has some wear to the chin strap but remains in very good
production-used condition. |
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| So again a pretty unique movie prop - just
perfect for those wintery all-nighter sessions playing Star Wars Battlefront.
For further information and to register for the auction please go to
www.propstore.com/liveauction |
