A fellow collector posed some questions to me today regarding the original prop Raiders of the Lost Ark “God of Light” wall plaque offered in the upcoming Profiles in History auction (see Profiles in History Hollywood Auction 30 Catalog Out):
The description reads:
952. Screen-used “god of light” head from Raiders of the Lost
Ark. (Paramount, 1981) Made from Fibrous plaster and mica, and
measuring 15 in. x 15 ½ in. this “god of light” head can be seen in the
opening sequence on the wall of the Mayan temple as Indy runs past the
flying arrows in pursuit of the golden fertility idol. Lot includes a set of
four original sequential storyboards depicting the above scenes with pencil
notes and biro writing. $2,000 – $3,000
In discussing this same offering with another hobbyist last week, he pointed me to the following replica, claimed to be a casting made by Elstree Props, on the YourProps.com website:
Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones) (1981), Chachapoyan Temple Wall Plaque
The description reads:
Cast from an original wall plaque in the collection of Elstree Studios where the opening scenes of Raiders were filmed. Made by Elstree Props.
Comparing the two images, the two pieces appear to match in many fine details (such as distinct marks, pits, and damage):
In my opinion, based on these two photos, they do appear to be from the same source, or one a casting of the other.
This is a good example of the consequences and impact on original prop collecting concerning direct castings made of original props.
At best, it makes the acquisition of such copied pieces problematic, and puts that much more of a burden on provenance and authenticity in order to differentiate between an original and castings of that original. For many, such pieces become undesirable as a result, due to the inherent risk.
In this case, with the information available, I can offer no guidance apart from recommending diligence in determining authenticity. At best, the Profiles offering is the original from which copies were produced, but I would think additional material information would be required to demonstrate that contingency.
If any readers have any additional information in regards to these pieces, please feel free to post a Reader Comment below.
Jason De Bord