A miniature Y-Wing Starfighter, piloted by Gold Leader in the iconic scene where Luke Skywalker destroys the Death Star in the 1977 movie “Star Wars: A New Hope,” fetched an impressive $1.55 million at Heritage’s July Entertainment Auction on Friday.
Another notable item was Princess Leia’s gold bikini costume from the scenes with Jabba the Hutt in 1983’s “Return of the Jedi,” which sold for $175,000. This seven-piece ensemble from Industrial Light & Magic’s chief sculptor Richard Miller includes a bikini brassiere, bikini plates, hip rings, an armlet, and a bracelet.
The Y-Wing sold is one of only two “hero” models (used in close-up shots) created by the ILM visual effects team. According to the auction description, the design originated from Colin Cantwell and was based on a rough concept from George Lucas, who aimed to create distinct shapes to help the audience quickly identify whether a ship was from the “good guys” or the “bad guys.”
Other items at the auction included the final movie poster artwork for “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” by Bob Peak, which sold for $106,250. This 1986 sci-fi film, directed by Leonard Nimoy, who also played Spock, was a highlight. Additionally, John Alvin’s concept art for his 1982 “Blade Runner” movie poster fetched $100,000.
Also featured were a Thor hammer used in “Thor: The Dark World,” which sold for $81,250, and a helmet from “The Mandalorian,” which went for $40,000.
