A famous medal and a legendary weapon from the Star Wars series have sold for over $1 million in total at auction.
The medal was awarded to Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in the triumphant final scene of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope from 1977.
A $300,000 to $600,000 estimate for the Medal of Yavin proved accurate as the prop, made from cast resign with a gold-leaf finish, realised $378,000 from 15 bids at the Prop Store sale last week.
That made it the second most valuable item in the three-day sale.
The crown goes to a Bowcaster used by Chewbacca in film three of the series.
Photomatching helps to prove a prop was the actual item shown on screen. Image courtesy PropStoreAuction.
Looking like a cross bow, the weapon is strongly associated with the much-loved Wookiee character.
It achieved $768,600 after attracting 42 bids, easily exceeding a top estimate of $500,000.
Prop Store said: “This is believed to be the one and only crossbow used as Chewie’s bowcaster across all three films; there is no evidence of a second or back-up prop. This is extremely significant as only a small number of other hand props, if any, were used in all three movies.”
Both items were subjected to the latest photomatching to add to their provenance.
The medal came from the collection of Gerard Bourke, an uncredited propman who worked on filming of the original Star Wars trilogy at Elstree Studios.
The power of the Star Wars name can be seen in the sale of a camera for $168,800. Although the item was used across a large number of movies, and was first used to shoot ET, it was listed as a Return of the Jedi item.
Prop Store said: “Principal character props and costumes from the original trilogy are exceptionally rare and sought after.”
The most valuable ever Star Wars item is an X-Wing model prop that sold for $3.1 million last year.
