Hit movies memorabilia up for auction in London

From Will Ferrell’s costume in ‘Elf’ to props from ‘Star Wars’, an extensive collection of movie memorabilia spanning cinematic history is set to go under the hammer next month.

Propstore’s Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, scheduled for December 5-7, will feature more than 1,350 lots with a combined estimated value of £8 million. Topping the auction is Boba Fett’s EE-3 carbine rifle from ‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back’, valued between £350,000 and £700,000.

“It only came to us about a year ago, and we spent several weeks examining it almost to a forensic level. We even matched the wood grain on the stock,” Propstore founder and CEO Stephen Lane said at a press preview on Tuesday.

“Despite some damage and distress, this is and remains the one and only Boba Fett blaster used in ‘Empire Strikes Back’.” Other ‘Star Wars’ lots include a rebel pilot helmet from the same film and a Stormtrooper E-11 imperial blaster from ‘Return of the Jedi’.

The auction also features ‘Indiana Jones’ memorabilia, including a brown fedora made for Harrison Ford’s character in ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’. Costumes include Ferrell’s green tunic from ‘Elf’.

Additional highlights include ‘Spider-Man’s black symbiote suit worn by Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man 3, Marty McFly’s hoverboard from the second and third ‘Back to the Future’ films and ballet slippers from ‘The Red Shoes’.

Meanwhile, Disney fans and collectors will also get a rare glimpse into animation history the memorabilia live auction. The auction showcases the creative process behind classic Disney films, from early concept art to finished production celluloids.

Highlights include Mary Blair’s ‘Cinderella at the Palace Window’ concept painting (1950), estimated at £15,000-£30,000, a hand-drawn beat board from ‘Monsters, Inc.’ (2001), signed by Jorgen Klubien and storyboards from ‘Fantasia’ (1940).

Finished cels on hand-painted backgrounds include ‘Sleeping Beauty’ (1959) featuring ‘Maleficent and Diablo’ (£12,000-£24,000) and Pinocchio’s iconic ‘I’ve Got No Strings’ scene (£10,000-£20,000). 

Other notable lots include ‘The Jungle Book’ cels, ‘The Little Mermaid’s Ursula, and original storyboards from ‘Cars’ (2006) and ‘A Bug’s Life’ (1998). The auction opens with in-room bidding, on December 5, followed by online-only bidding.
(REUTERS WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)