Bidding for this lot will end on Wednesday, August 26th. The auction will begin at 9:30 AM (PDT) / 12:30 PM (EDT) / 5:30 PM (GMT) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, August 27th or Friday, August 28th or Saturday, August 29th.
Darth Vader's (Hayden Christensen) lightsaber hilt from George Lucas' Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Anakin Skywalker lost his signature lightsaber - and nearly his life - during his fateful duel with his master, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), on the fiery planet of Mustafar. After being rehabilitated by his new Sith Master, Sheev Palpatine, aka Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), Skywalker became known as Darth Vader and assumed an entirely new lightsaber in keeping with his imposing, all-black suit.
Among the most iconic artifacts in the Star Wars saga, Darth Vader's lightsaber was first introduced in Star Wars: A New Hope and later appeared in key moments throughout the original trilogy. Lightsabers were central to George Lucas' earliest concepts for Star Wars and were originally referred to as laser (or in some drafts, "lazer") swords. Lucas envisioned a weapon that was elegant and defensive, symbolic of honor and the romantic ideals of combat. The first visualizations were by concept artist Ralph McQuarrie, whose 1975 production painting titled "Laser Duel" featured lightsabers resembling flashlight handles of the period.
In the opening scenes of A New Hope, Darth Vader's lightsaber was clipped prominently to his belt during his dramatic introduction aboard the Rebel blockade runner, providing the first-ever onscreen look at the now-legendary weapon. For Revenge of the Sith, production closely followed the original designs from A New Hope while adding subtle enhancements, as Vader's weapon in the original trilogy would have sufficiently changed over years of use.
Several different styles of Darth Vader's all-important saber were built in varying degrees of complexity to aid the performer in dueling sequences for ROTS. This particular hilt did not appear in the final cut of the film, as it was clipped too far around on Vader's belt, and therefore hidden beneath parts of his signature costume. However, Vader's lightsaber featured prominently throughout the film's promotional campaign as a bridge between the original and prequel trilogies.
This version - modeled largely on the M.P.P. Microflash unit-style saber wielded by Vader in the original trilogy - is constructed from resin cast around an internal metal rod for structure and painted chrome and black to appear metallic. It features distinctive features such as dual copper-color pins near its emitter and a removable waist clip for attaching to Vader's utility belt. The hilt shows evidence of wear consistent with on-set use, handling, and age.
Revenge of the Sith went on to break multiple box office records, ending 2005 as the year's most successful film and forever introducing a new generation of fans to Lucas' franchise. As the signature weapon of one of both the film's main characters and ultimately one of the most recognizable characters in science-fiction history, Vader's lightsaber remains unmatched in cinematic legacy. Dimensions: 12" x 3" x 3" (30.5 cm x 7.25 cm x 7.25 cm)
Estimate: $30,000 - 60,000This item comes with a Propstore Certificate of Authenticity.