Totara Peak Gallery - A Xena oasis at Omarama, NZ

Hello everybody!

Today I wanted to tell you about a very small and special place at Omarama, a small township near the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin, in the South Island of New Zealand. There you can find Totara Peak Gallery, the only antique shop in the area and "an eclectic mix of antiques, rare books and new and old costume jewellery".

The shop is located on the road to Queenstown, Mt Cook, Christchurch and Oamaru - it's, in their own words, "in the middle of nowhere, but in fact it is in the center of everywhere". 

http://www.omaramaantiques.com/museum.html

But what's so special about this place? Well, somewhere in their labyrinth of curiosities and antiques Totara Peak Gallery holds a spectacular shrine of original Xena props and costumes, including a full Xena costume.

Yes, that's right. I've known this for years, but until recently I was unable to get good HQ pictures of the measures hold at Omarama. Luckily, photographer and amazing manaia artist M. Navarre recently arrived there by chance and has been very kind to share his photos with us.

So let's go and take a look! Warning: HEAVY pics ahead!

General overview 1

General overview 2

Now let's focus on the juicy stuff: the Xena costume. "Original Xena costumes purchased in Auckland surround the Xena centerpiece".

Xena costume 1

Xena costume 2

Xena costume 3

Xena costume close-up: knee-guards and boots.

Xena costume: Description.

As you can read, the body piece is leather, the armbands and gauntlets are copper and leather (Creation Ent. replicas), and the breastplate and other armor parts are resin (stunts). Nevertheless, the resin pieces are so finely made and so well taken care of that they look exactly like copper. Amazing! And what do you say about that shot with the knee-guards? I love it.

Alongside Xena's costume is Daphne's costume. Remember her from S5 "Little Problems"? She was a child whose body was briefly inhabited by Xena's spirit. The owners say: "The childs costume worn by New Zealand actress Rose McIver is special to us - Rose was our neighbor in Auckland and we still follow her career".

Other costumes of the collection are: a couple of armored soldiers, a man with a turban, an Amazon or similar, and many loose weapons and props.

Soldier 1

Soldier 2 - "Tazor"

Tazor description.

Amazon or similar.

It's not very clear in this shot, but at the right side of the "amazon" there's a baby carrier with a baby mannequin in full costume. The costume doesn't look like Eve's, but who knows...

In the next shot the baby is more visible in the background.

Copper? vase over statue.

Gabrielle's bombs description.

Ahhhh! The famous Gabrielle bombs seen in S5! Some of them lie around... Where exactly? Go back to the close-up of Xena's knee-guards and you'll see them, hidden behind the Xena mannequin. 

Stag banner.

Stag banner, shield, dragon, spears... 

Bone and stone clubs... from the Horde, perhaps?

Spears and what appears to be a Celtic banner.

And that's all! I hope you enjoyed seen these pictures as much as me.

Once again, thanks a thousand to M. Navarre for his photos, they're amazing!

Cheers people!

Monday eBay Roundup (XVI)

Hey everyone!

It's been a while since I last did one of these. It's about time that I started doing them again, don't you think? So let's start and take a look at the Xena props and replicas we can find right now on eBay!

- AMAZON "HELICON" SWORD PROP

   > Character: Amazon Warrior or Queen in S6 "To Helicon and Back"

   > Material: Resin (with metal rod inside)

   > Papers: COA from Turners

   > Seller: sonofkrypton22

   > Price: $499.99 plus shipping

   > Opinion: This kind of sword was used as the trademark Amazon weapon in the episode "To Helicon and Back" - and the color differentiated the rank of the warrior. From memory I reckon seeing only the different queens using these swords, but I'm not 100% sure. I do remember that Gab's was honey yellow, and this one is black, so it's not hers. Anyhow, whomever it might have belonged to, this prop shows visible wear from its set use. It comes from collector Otsillac - which always means it's always legit and usually also a bit pricey.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141589880712

- PROP SQUID HELMET

   > Character: Several characters in several episodes

   > Material: Foam rubber

   > Papers: Not included

   > Seller: geremea

   > Price: $139.99 plus shipping (or Buy Now for $199.99)

   > Opinion: The listing doesn't include the COA nor info about the episodes in which the prop have been used, but I'm pretty sure I've seen this kind of helmet in some episode - I think perhaps on Hercules? Please let me know if you recognize this from somewhere!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231494246892

- GOLDEN BRACELET PROP

   > Character: Uknown

   > Material: Foam rubber

   > Papers: Included

   > Seller: jamekean.xtsrow4i

   > Price: $0.99 (already $10.50) plus shipping

   > Opinion: Nice jewelry prop, although not much information about its origins. The seller says it comes with COA but doesn't specify - however I believe it's a Turners COA. Very affordable!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111607886377

- CREATION ENT YIN YANG CHAKRAM #406

   > Manufacturer: Creation Entertainment 

   > Number: 406/500

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: scoobygirl099

   > Price: $400 plus shipping

   > Opinion: What is there left to say about a piece like this? :) Late edition, so it has the NZ stamp (visible in the photo). On the other hand, later numbers had a quite good color scheme and weathering, far better done that some of the midline numbers. Price is reasonable, but for some reason the price of Creation Y&Y chakrams has been dropping as of late. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271787944243

- CREATION ENT GABRIELLE STAFF #338

   > Manufacturer: Creation Entertainment 

   > Number: 338/500

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: scoobygirl099

   > Price: $400 plus shipping

   > Opinion: Demand for Creation staffs tends to put prices around $200-300, so this one might be tagged as "overpriced". All things considered, this particular staff doesn't seem to be as accurate as earlier numbers, so you might want to consider waiting for a better opportunity. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271787943897

- TODD'S YIN YANG CHAKRAM #495

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: 495/1000

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: tarrante123

   > Price: $215 plus shipping (only USA), or Make Offer

   > Opinion: I know some of you were trying to find one of these, so this is a good opportunity! Price's not bad at all, and it includes the COA (although the number is not visible in the pics - is that a 4 hundred something?). The chakram looks to be midline judging from the colors.
>> EDIT: Seller told me the number is 495.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111611172521

- TODD'S Y&Y CHAKRAM #? + ORIGINAL CHAKRAM #?

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Numbers: ??/1000

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: tarrante123

   > Price: $400 plus shipping (only USA), or Make Offer

   > Opinion: Same seller, two other chakrams. This is a good deal, because you can get both chakrams at once. My only "but" is the shipping (only USA) which leaves all of us foreigners out unless you have some friend or family member in the US. Numbers are not clear here either - 4 hundred something and 6 hundred something? What do you guys think?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111611141516

- TODD'S XENA KNEE GUARDS REPLICA(S)

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: toddscostumes_com

   > Price: $99.95 plus shipping

   > Opinion: Todd's Costumes has listed several pairs of Xena knee guards. This one is the cheapest (probably because the leather color doesn't much 100%). If you don't like that detail and don't mind to spend more, you can check their other listings to take a look at the other different pairs. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251860208463

- LEATHER AMAZON SHEATH REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: toddscostumes_com

   > Price: $89.95 plus shipping

   > Opinion: This is an interesting piece. Similarly to the knee guards, there are several different amazon sheath replicas for sale, also for different prices - I guess that depending on the finish? I'm not sure because the photo is always the same. If interested you should ask for photos of the specific piece, as in my experience the promotional photo and the real thing can be quite different.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251860208463

***

Wow, that felt good :)

Feel free to comment and stay tuned for more. Cheers!

The Yahoo It's a Wrap! Auction (I)

Greeting collectors!

Today I'd like to talk about the Xena It's a Wrap Auction, the second biggest official Xena auction to take place up to today.

The It's a Wrap! Auction was a pretty huge internet-based public sale focused on Xena props, costumes and memorabilia, held in 2001 via Yahoo Auctions - the biggest open-to-all-fans Xena auction since the Turners Auction.

Like many other Xena sales and auctions, the IAW! Auction was a charity - all of the proceeds from the auction went to the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline, chosen by Lucy Lawless.

Here is the official press release and image on the long-gone Studios USA Xena web site, courtesy of Xenaville.com.

Image courtesy of Xenaville.com

(West Hollywood, CA., May 30, 2001) Fans of the syndicated hit Xena: Warrior Princess can commemorate the finale of the six-season-old series by participating in an official charity auction of approximately 250 props and costumes beginning Friday, June 1.

Hosted by Yahoo!® Auctions (http://auctions.yahoo.com/xena), one of the largest globally branded online auction services, and coordinated by It's A Wrap! Production Wardrobe Sales, the action-fantasy series will offer costumes, breastplates, scrolls, spears, satchels, bows and arrows, as well as a wide array of other items, used by Lucy Lawless, co-star Renee O'Connor and the rest of the cast. The auction will conclude on June 14, the week part one of the much-anticipated two-part finale will air in national syndication (see local listings).

All of Studios USA proceeds will be donated to series star Lucy Lawless' charity of choice: the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD"), which offers crisis intervention, information, literature and referrals 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Its state-of-the-art technology provides interpreters in 140 languages, as well as accessibility to the hearing impaired at 1-800-2-A-CHILD.

The hotline, established in 1982, receives calls from throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico. It is staffed with professional counselors who utilize a database of more than 55,000 emergency, social service and support resources.

Seen in more than 115 countries, Xena: Warrior Princess debuted in national syndication in September 1995. Xena chronicles the life-and-death-and-afterlife adventures of the fierce and fearless warrior princess, played by Lawless, and her warrior bard sidekick Gabrielle (O'Connor). In their travels through ancient imaginary lands, the two fight to protect the powerless even as they struggle with their own inner demons. The stories of their adventures blend drama with humor and feature spectacular action, cutting-edge special effects and a knowing modern-day sensibility.

A Renaissance Pictures production (Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2, Timecop, Hard Target, Army of Darkness, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Back 2 Back Action and the upcoming feature film, The Gift), Xena: Warrior Princess is executive produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi and R.J. Stewart and is distributed domestically by Studios USA Domestic Television. The series airs on more than 200 stations reaching 99% of the U.S.

Founded in 1959 by Sara O'Meara and Yvonne Fedderson, Childhelp USA is one of the largest and oldest national nonprofit organizations dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. For additional information, contact Childhelp USA's national headquarters at (480) 922-8212 or visit its Web site at www.childhelpusa.org.

>> NOTE: For extra info on some of the item's prices I recommend you to visit this site: http://www.movieprop.com/xenaprops1.htm - Here you'll be able to access the sale prices of many of the prop swords found in the auction.

****

All this information is great, but the real reason behind this entry is one of my most recent discoveries: surfing the Internet on the search of Xena info I accidentally stumbled with a hidden treasure: the Italian Xena website http://www.prometheus110.altervista.org.htm.

What makes it SO great for me is their section called "Il Museo", the Museum. There the site's owners have preserved most of the original images that once adorned the It's a Wrap! Auction. Priceless!

I proceed to share them all here for you. Rejoice!

>> XENA'S COSTUMES and ACCESSORIES:

They are all amazing, but of course I personally LOVE the armors and chakrams the most!

Xena's Warlord dragon costume & armor.

Xena's Warlord dragon costume accessories.

Xena's trademark costume leathers S1-S4.

Xena's trademark costume breastplate and pauldrons.

Xena's trademark costume backplate and pauldrons.

Xena's trademark costume accessories.

Xena's broken chakram from S4 "Ides of March".

Foam split half of Xena's Yin Yang chakram.

Xena's/Lucy's costumes in "Dreamworker", "The Xena Scrolls" (as Melinda Pappas),
"Warrior...Priestess...Tramp" (as Leah), and "When in Rome..."

Xena's/Lucy's costumes in "If the Shoe Fits" and "Between the Lines"
(as herself, and as Arminestra Mother of Peace).

Xena's/Lucy's costume in "The Way" (as Kali).

Xena's/Lucy's costumes in "Ides of March" and "Fallen Angel"
(as a deceased soul, as an Archangel, and as a Demon).

Xena's Pregnancy costume & armor.

Xena's/Lucy's costumes in "Heart of Darkness", "Who's Gurkhan?",
"Legacy", and "Old Ares had a Farm".

Xena's/Lucy's jewelry in "Who's Gurkhan?"

Xena's/Lucy's costumes in "Return of the Valkyrie", "The God You Know"
(as the goddess Sabba), and "Many Happy Returns".

Xena's/Lucy's helmet in "The God You Know" (as the goddess Sabba).

Xena's/Lucy's wedding dress and accessories in "Soul Possession".

Xena's/Lucy's costumes in "A Friend in Nedd (I and II)".

>> GABRIELLE'S COSTUMES and ACCESSORIES:

In this case I love all the iconic ones - can't choose! The S4 yellow sari and the S5 leather costume are absolute masterpieces for me!

Gabrielle's trademark S2 BGSB and skirt.

Gabrielle's Amazon Queen costume in "The Quest".  

Gabrielle's/Renée's costumes in "Dreamworker", "A Solstice Carol" (as queen Analia),
"The Xena Scrolls" (as Janis Covington), and "Ulysses".

Gabrielle's/Renée's costume in "The Bitter Suite".

Gabrielle's/Renée's costumes in "Locked Up and Tied Down"
(as the Healer) and "If the Shoe Fits" (as Tyrella). 

Gabrielle's/Renée's hat in "Locked Up and Tied Down"
(as the Healer). 

Gabrielle's trademark S4 yellow sari.

Gabrielle's/Renée's costumes in "Devi", "Paradise Found", and "Ides of March".

Gabrielle's/Renée's costume in
"Fallen Angel" (as an Archangel).

Gabrielle's trademark S5 leather costume.

One of Gabrielle's sais (resin).

Gabrielle's S5 cowhide coat.

Gabrielle's/Renée's costumes in "Them Bones, Them Bones", "Little Problems"
(as Brunhilda the Siamese twin), "Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire", and "Punch Lines".

Gabrielle's/Renée's costumes in "Purity", "Married with Fishsticks"
(as Crustacea), and "Antony and Cleopatra".

Gabrielle's trademark S6 velvet costume.

Gabrielle's/Renée's costumes in "The Haunting of Amphipolis" (ripped version),
"Who's Gurkhan?", "Legacy", and "When Fates Collide".

Gabrielle's japanese gear in "A Friend in Need (I and II)".

****

There is an insanely huge amount of images, so this is all for now. I'll continue posting images (and their respective brief descriptions) soon enough.

Stay tuned!

READ NEXT PART: The Yahoo It's a Wrap! Auction (II)