A light-up C-3PO head used in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back has fetched more than US$1m at an auction.
The prop was part of a collection of film and TV memorabilia that went under the hammer on Wednesday as part of the Spring Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction at Propstore auction house in Los Angeles.
It is the only known example of the fictional droid’s head to appear on the collector market and sold for US$1,058,400 (£790,440 or A$1,519,259), having received a pre-sale estimate of $350,000 to $700,000.
The C-3PO head was the top lot at the auction, which also saw the harpoon gun used by the actor Robert Shaw in Jaws, accompanied by its original case, fetch $327,600.
Elsewhere, a Wilson volleyball used by Tom Hanks in 2000’s Cast Away sold for $189,000 after receiving a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 to $300,000.
The auction also featured broken pieces of a sword used in The Lord Of The Rings, which sold for $252,000.
The first day of the auction fetched $6.5m and also included items such as a golden ticket from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
Brandon Alinger, Propstore’s chief operating officer, said: “We’ve seen a strong start to the auction, with competitive bidding right from the outset.
“At Propstore, Star Wars material continues to resonate with collectors and the C-3PO head from The Empire Strikes Back was a real highlight of the day.
“The Jaws collection also delivered an impressive overall result, coming just after the film’s 50th anniversary and reflecting its enduring appeal with collectors.
“With such a diverse lineup of material still to come, we’re excited to see how the rest of the auction unfolds.”
The final day of bidding, 27 March, will be dedicated to animation, with more than 200 lots celebrating the artistry of animation in film and television.
