Though I just posted the original article a few hours ago, I came across an auction on eBay that sheds some light on the Raiders of the Lost Ark wall plaque offered in Profiles in History that matches one seen on YourProps.com listed as a replica casting attributed to Elstree Props.
INDIANA JONES RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK FILM PROP (eBay Item #120178583802):
Auction Archive: Elstree Props eBay Auction Raiders Casting Replica
From the marketing description:
This auction is for this extremely rare casting from the original film prop used here at Elstree Film Studios. The actual original piece will be auctioned later this year and will fetch many thousands of pounds : ) This is a an exact replica taken directly from the original and finished in solid fibreglass. It is light but strong and easy to hang, this will look great in any office or home, its a film prop even the wife will allow you to display : )
The original is cast from fibrous plaster and vermaculite, we have matched closely thanks to Carl the artist! We can make you one in the same materials as the original but it will cost more and be crumbly, the orignal plasteres are still here in the studios : )
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A SET OF THESE HAS EVER BEEN SOLD!
This is now for sale here in our eBay store for £200.
You see the originals of these in the opening sequence when Idy is going through the tunnel to get the idol. There are two types, and darts are fired from them as he triggers various traps. You see one stick in his torch.
Interestingly, it was sold under the eBay username hencheese rather than the usual e11e.
In any event, this was sold deliberately as a precursor to the Profiles auction, so one must assume that hencheese is Elstree Props. This sold just over a week ago for about $400, and the photo on YourProps.com does match the one used in this auction.
There does appear to be several of these available. Reviewing the SpecialistAuctions.com venue under which the Return of the Jedi lightsaber is offered (see Elstree Props “Original” Return of the Jedi Lightsaber at Auction), looking at “See all Auctions from this Seller“, I came across an auction for one of these castings there as well:
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK INDIANA JONES TEMPLE PROP! (SpecialistAuctions Item ID: 1052041):
Auction Archive: Elstree Props SpecialistAuction Raiders Casting Replica
There is also a currently active listing for another one of these castings under the Elstree Props primary eBay account, e11e, which mirrors the previously cited hencheese listing:
INDIANA JONES RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK FILM PROP (eBay Item #260182360109):
There is another e11e completed auction for one here:
Another one sold here:
Another one here:
As well as additional auctions under the hencheese account:
In any event, these auctions at least provide some details and explanation as to the existence of replica castings. I would be curious to know the logic and reasoning behind devaluing an original and confusing hobbyists by creating duplicates and putting them into the marketplace.
Also curious is the open and notorious manufacture and sale of presumably unlicensed Lucasfilm property, such as these Raiders of the Lost Ark pieces, given the lawsuit involving Lucasfilm and Shepperton Design Studio for the sale and manufacture of unlicensed and unauthorized Lucasfilm product [see Lucasfilm Press Room]:
Lucasfilm Ltd. Wins Major Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Star Wars Stormtrooper Pirate
October 11, 2006U.S. District Court Awards $20 Million for Illegal Creation and Sales of Unauthorized Star Wars Products
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has awarded Lucasfilm Ltd. $20 million in damages in a copyright infringement and unfair competition case against the British firm Shepperton Design Studios and its owner, Andrew Ainsworth.The court found that Shepperton Design Studios had been marketing unlicensed copies of Stormtrooper helmets and costumes, and TIE fighter pilot helmets from the Star Wars films, as well as making misleading claims about the authenticity and origins of these items.
The Judgment, by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner, awards damages to Lucasfilm Ltd. for copyright infringement, unfair competition and trademark infringement and permanently bars Shepperton Design Studios from copying, reproducing, importing, licensing, marketing or displaying any of its unauthorized Star Wars products in the United States. Lucasfilm is also pursuing legal action against Shepperton in the U.K., where the company is based, to ensure that the judgment is enforced there.
“Lucasfilm vigorously protects its intellectual property rights in Star Wars,” said Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing. “Infringers like Shepperton need to understand that we will pursue them anywhere in the world to shut them down and seek restitution.”
Roffman noted that many Star Wars fans around the world produce replicas of Star Wars costumes for their own personal use and enjoyment, an activity to which Lucasfilm Ltd. has no objection. One such group, the “501st Legion” of stormtroopers, is a global organization that has often worked with Lucasfilm and its partners. “We appreciate that Star Wars has sparked the imaginations of fans around the world,” he said. “We would never want to discourage fans from showcasing their enthusiasm for the movies. However, anyone who tries to profit from using our copyrights and trademarks without authorization crosses the line; they become an infringer and we will go after them.”
Jason De Bord