Movie enthusiasts are being offered a rare opportunity to own a piece of cinematic history, with iconic props from films like Jaws and Star Wars set to go under the hammer next month. The auction, hosted by Propstore in Los Angeles, features over 1,550 lots with a combined pre-sale estimate of nine million US dollars, equivalent to approximately £6.5 million.
Iconic Jaws Props Expected to Command High Prices
The highlight of the sale is undoubtedly the harpoon gun used by actor Robert Shaw in the classic 1975 film Jaws. This prop, presented a year after the film's landmark 50th anniversary, comes with its original case and carries an estimate of 250,000 to 500,000 dollars, or £185,000 to £370,000. It is anticipated to fetch as much as half a million US dollars.
Also from Jaws, the Fenwick fishing rod with reel, utilised by Shaw's character Quint during a tense encounter with the ferocious shark in Steven Spielberg's movie, is estimated to sell for between 75,000 and 150,000 dollars, which translates to £55,000 to £110,000.
Star Wars Memorabilia Takes Center Stage
The auction will also showcase a selection of Star Wars pieces, headlined by a light-up C-3PO head from the 1980 sequel The Empire Strikes Back. This item has a pre-sale estimate of 350,000 to 700,000 dollars, or £260,000 to £520,000.
Additionally, Rey and Luke Skywalker's lightsaber hilt from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, seen during Rey's confrontation with Kylo Ren in the 2015 film, carries an estimate of 50,000 to 100,000 dollars, equivalent to £35,000 to £75,000.
Other Notable Film Artefacts on Offer
An arena helmet and mask worn by a character in Sir Ridley Scott's Oscar-winning epic Gladiator from 2000 is expected to fetch between 125,000 and 250,000 dollars, or £90,000 to £185,000.
A golden ticket from the 1971 adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory has an estimate of 80,000 to 160,000 dollars, which is £60,000 to £120,000.
Furthermore, a Wilson volleyball used by Tom Hanks in the 2000 film Cast Away is for sale with an estimate of 150,000 to 300,000 dollars, translating to £110,000 to £220,000.
Auction Details and Expert Commentary
The three-day event is scheduled to take place from March 25 to 27, offering worldwide bidding on these cinematic treasures. Propstore's chief operating officer, Brandon Alinger, emphasised the significance of the collection.
"This auction brings together some of the most significant artefacts in cinema history, spanning landmark films, iconic characters, and extraordinary moments of filmmaking," Alinger stated. "The inclusion of the Jaws harpoon gun and fishing rod is particularly special, as pieces from this film almost never surface at this level."
He added, "At Propstore, we see ourselves as caretakers of film history, and it's always rewarding to help place these remarkable items into new collections where they can be preserved and appreciated for generations to come."
