My friend Dan Lanigan is the focus of a new article published by WIRED magazine titled “Inside the Deeply Nerdy—and Insanely Expensive—World of Hollywood Prop Collecting“. Written by Rene Chun with photography by Dan Winters, it takes a close look at select high end movie props… [Read more…]
The Smithsonian Institution launched a new Kickstarter campaign yesterday in an effort to raise $300,000 for their preservation efforts with the Dorothy ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz that is in their collection. After just one day, they’ve already raised over one third of their stated goal. [Read more…]
Prop Store will be holding new auctions as part of their “Rick Baker: Monster Maker” online-only event starting this week, and running at least four weeks, with new material added weekly. The no reserve auction boasts original props and costumes directly from the legendary effects artist. Prop Store held a live Rick Baker auction event at Universal City back in May. [Read more…]
Prop Store will be holding their “Rick Baker: Monster Maker” live auction event at Hilton – Universal City on May 29th. The official sale, under partnership with the legendary Rick Baker, boasts more than 400 pieces from his personal archive covering 50 productions over 30 years. None of this material has been released to the public prior to this no reserve auction. You can pre-order the print catalog via their official website today. [Read more…]
In support of their upcoming live auction event, Prop Store has produced a number of high quality videos showcasing some of the props, costumes, vehicles, and other production items that comprise their “Live Auction of Film & Television Artefacts” sale, which will conclude on October 16th. I’ve often lamented the poor quality photos used by some of the auction houses in their respective auctions for television and movie memorabilia, so I thought the fact that Prop Store has gone to the other extreme – with extensive high definition videos – that it warranted a mention herein, as it is a positive step forward for this particular art market. [Read more…]
Prop Store will be holding their first live auction event in London on October 16th. The auction catalog is now available online via a PDF download and interactive catalog via their official website and collectors can bid through PropStore.com. Prop Store has been one of the few “quality” dealers in this market for many, many years, with a reputation to match, so seeing them get into the live auction “event” side of the business is a very positive development in my personal opinion. They have put together an excellent assortment of items for this auction (many of which have not been seen before and/or auctioned in public before) and the reserves are very, very reasonable (no “jackpot” reserves/estimates as I frequently complain about). The catalog is impressive (in design and layout), and they are including a standardized COA with each item. The online listings show many high quality images of each item. I think if you read the letter at the front of the catalog, you will see that Stephen Lane and Prop Store have a different set of experiences and perspectives on collecting compared with most other auction houses – there is passion and understanding as collectors. I wish them the best in their new endeavor. Hopefully their entrance to this arena will motivate other auction houses to improve their own businesses. I think collectors have been complaining about a number of facets of this business, and Prop Store has listened and addressed many of them with their first big auction, and I know that they are receptive to feedback and will build on what I expect will be a successful first event. [Read more…]
This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2014. This is most definitely the most important Comic-Con appearance for Prop Store since their first exhibit back in 2008. They have managed to get a sizable upgrade in space from The Powers That Be at Comic-Con for 2014, and they have put all of that additional square footage to brilliant use, with a more open design and really elegant work in displaying their rare props and costumes with beautiful lighting. With the added visibility, Prop Store is using the opportunity to get the word out about their first live auction even later this year, to be held in London in October.
After 16 years in the business of selling original TV and movie props, costumes, and other Hollywood memorabilia, Prop Store will be holding it’s first live auction on October 16th, at Vue Westfield in London following a two week exhibition at Vue’s flagship cinema in Westfield, London. With 375 items set to hit the auction block, highlights include material from some of the top sci-fi and action film franchises including James Bond, Star Wars, Back to the Future, Terminator, Batman, and more. Prop Store has made the hardcover catalog available for pre-order on their site today. [Read more…]