Star Wars TIE fighter helmet smashes estimate in London

A TIE fighter helmet from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) has sold for �216,000 ($280,616).

That's an increase of 208.5% on its initial valuation of �70,000 ($90,923).

Tie fighter helmet
The TIE fighter helmet appears onscreen in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

It was among the top lots of the Propstore's September 27 entertainment memorabilia auction in London.

The lot is one of only 14 original TIE fighter helmets made at Shepperton Design Studios in 1976. Only 12 of these were used on set and all were subject to the usual stresses of movie production.

This is one of the few survivors to remain in original condition.  

A Star Wars X-wing model used in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) realised �108,000 ($140,308).

The model can be seen during the evacuation of the rebels from the ice planet Hoth.

In order to save time the production staff actually constructed it (and others used in the film) from an X-wing kit that was available in stores.

It was then painted to appear battle-scarred.

The lot has exceptional provenance, having been consigned from the collection of the movie's special visual effects supervisor Brian Johnson.

Other Star Wars highlights included a Technirama motion capture camera used to create a variety of special effects - including the Millennium Falcon's leap to hyperspace in A New Hope.

It realised �108,000 ($140,308) against a �50,000 ($64,950) estimate. The figures achieved in this sale demonstrate the rude health of the Star Wars memorabilia market.

We have this intriguing original prop from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope for sale.

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