The Turners Auction (II)

Hello everybody!

How are you? I've been meaning to share something with you for a time: all the different photos that I've been "recollecting" from the Internet of the Turners Auction over the years.

As I mentioned on my previous post about it, the Turners Auction was a huge prop sale that took place in New Zealand in 2001. It was the first official Xena auction ever organized, and it also included props from other Renaissance Pictures shows, such as Hercules, Young Hercules, Cleopatra 2525 and Jack of All Trades.

Unlike the Yahoo / It's a Wrap! auction, I've never seen official photos of the pieces one by one. Only by lots, filling every corner of several warehouses. This is the map:

Anyhow, without further delay, here are the photos that I've been able to scavenge (most courtesy of New Xenaland). I hope you like them!

First come all the photos concerning props and atrezzo elements:

Top Left: Can you spot the sais?

Amazon swords (left) and Gab staffs (right) 

Bottom Right: Xena's coffin, before it was cut in pieces!

Bottom right: Katanas from AFIN

Is that a huge Ares head?

Now let's take a look at all the costumes:

Bottom Left: Look how many roman costumes!

Bottom Left: Are those Hercules pants?

Top Left: Valkyrie costumes!

That's all I've got --but if you happen to have other photos from the Turners Auction and feel like sharing, it'll be great to take a look at them!

Happy week!

Xena at the Smithsonian (part III)

Hello everyone!

I hope you're doing ok during these weird times! In the meantime, here in confinement, I wanted to share these images that I found online, courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1299828

Just look at ALL those awesome details!

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Cheers! :)

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!

Artemis Women in Action Film Festival Crowdfunding - XWP costumes and props!

Splendid news everyone!

Thanks to the Xena Forum user Carbonek I've found out this juicy information, and I've felt I had to share.

I quote what she says over there: "There is a Los Angeles-based film festival that honors women in action films that is currently crowdfunding their second year event. A local Xena fan has donated a number of prop and costume items to the campaign to help raise money for the film festival". 

The items are a set-used foam Xena battle-sword, a stunt of Gabrielle's iconic S3 costume (minus the belt), Alti's hero headpiece from S5 "Them Bones, Them Bones", Paleamon's hero vest from S2 "Blind Faith", a set-used foam snake sword used in S1's finale "Is There a Doctor in the House?", and a resin bone dagger sword used by many characters - among which we should highlight Marcus, Xena's male lover from S1.

These are the images present at the site, with additional info:

This is the website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-women-kick-ass-project-2#/story

Items are not for auction, but instead are rewards for different funding goals. As Carbonic says: "Also, this is not an auction, which I think most fans are used to seeing, the items are offered at funding levels, so you will also get other perks from the festival along with the item".

So, you know: if you're interested in any of these items, know that you're also contributing to bring to live an amazing festival that honors women in action films. Cool!

Thanks for the heads-up, Carbonek!

For Sale: Sabrina's Collection (Part 1)

Hey people!

Today I bring you the collection of a fellow Xenite, Sabrina. She loves her pieces deeply, but due to an illness she sees herself forced to let some of them go. Nevertheless she hopes (as do I) that these amazing props and costumes will find soon a caring home.

Let's take a look at them!

- SOLAN'S PROP SWORD FROM S2 "ORPHAN OF WAR"

First we have the sword of Xena's son, Solan. This sword is super-rare, as it was the main plot point (and prop) in S2 "Orphan of War". As you may remember, in the episode this sword was passed from Borias to his son Solan, and had the mystic Ixion stone well hidden within it's very design.

This a beautifully designed heavy resin sword with leather accents in the handle. Unfortunately, the green decorative jewels that fell out in the episode are missing - which leaded Sabrina and the sword's previous owner to believe this may have been the actual prop sword used to fall to the ground, causing the Ixion stone to appear.

Sabrina bought this from a respected and trusted Xena collector, and doesn't think there is any paperwork with it. She will of course include it if it turns out she has it.

As this is a very rare sword, the asking price is $599 USD plus shipping.

>> EDIT: Price dropped to $399 USD plus shipping!  

- XENA'S ANGEL GOWN FROM S5 "FALLEN ANGEL"

Second, there's Lucy's hero angel dress from S5 "Fallen Angel". She wears this vaporous gown right after she dies, and before the angels try to pick Xena and Gabrielle's souls up from those eerie rocky formations. A very simple yet truly luscious piece!

The costume comes with COA from It's A Wrap! and the wardrobe tag reads "Lucy #. Sabrina adds that the gown has has seen lots of wear and is very delicate but still absolutely beautiful!

She's asking $1,000 plus shipping for it.

She didn't tell me this, but she has the matching feather sandals (only from Renée instead from Lucy). If you're interested you might be able to get them along the gown for a good price.

- JACE'S COSTUME FROM S5 "LYRE, LYRE, HEARTS ON FIRE"

"Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire" was an outrageous episode - in the good way :D And nothing on it was more outrageous that Jace's (Joxer's brother) costume: a madness of feathers, gold, silky textures and crazy colors. Ted Raimi definitely did an awesome performance in that dance!

This spectacular costume comes with EVERYTHING included - shoes, shirt, vest pants, coat, jewelry and head piece. And it's perfectly preserved.

Sabrina's asking $300 USD plus shipping for it.

***

That's all for now. If you're interested let me know, or else write directly to Sabrina at her mail address:

sthurlow@gmail.com

Cheers everyone!

Monday eBay Roundup (XXII)

Hello Xenites!

The Xena prop/replica world has been very quiet these past weeks. But today there are some items on eBay that I'm sure will prove worth your attention. Let's take a look!

- SILVER DISC / SHIELD PROP FROM S4 "THE WAY"

   > Character: Background object in S4 "The Way"

   > Material: Urethane resin

   > Papers: COA from It's a Wrap!

   > Seller: whomac7

   > Price: $99 (already $470!!) plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: This shield is ON FIRE! Wow! This is obviously a gorgeous piece (you can find a very complete description in the listing) and the starting bid was very reasonable. Now the bids are skyrocketing, which is always an adrenaline rush!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161809199779

- DRAGON HELMET PROP

   > Character: Campbell? Fraley?

   > Material: Urethane resin?

   > Papers: Not mentioned

   > Seller: njmoondragon

   > Price: $75 plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: Another rare and quite interesting looking prop. The seller mentions to have acquired this piece in the Yahoo It's a Wrap! Auctions, but no word is said about the COA. The insides of the helmet are marked with the words "Campbell" and "Fraley". Price is quite low.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/262026600579

- TODD'S COSTUMES Y&Y CHAKRAM REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Todd's Costumes
   > Number: 375?/1000

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: lilsis651

   > Price: $299 plus shipping

   > Opinion: This one has been lurking around for a while - it's the third or fourth time the seller re-lists this chakram replica. Price is not bad, but before bidding but aware the paint is chipped in several places. It's probably something that CAN be fixed, but I point it out so there are no unpleasant surprises too late. There's no mention about the paperwork.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/231678761355

- MARTO'S 10th ANNIVERSARY GOLD XENA SWORD

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not mentioned

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: wschaefer123

   > Price: $895 plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: I don't usually bother to review Marto's Xena sword replicas, but this one is a bit more special: it's part of the 10th Anniversary Gold line. So it's fancier :p What a price, however!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252078123156

- MARTO'S XENA "SUPER" KATANA REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not mentioned

   > COA: Not mentioned

   > Seller: westsidediscount007

   > Price: $179.99 plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: Same here. Not a big lover of this katana replica. It's a nice collectible, neatly made, but not accurate. Attention! This one here is missing a couple of pieces!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/311437502817

- MARTO'S XENA "SUPER" KATANA REPLICA

   > Manufacturer: Marto of Toledo
   > Number: Not mentioned

   > COA: Included

   > Seller: supasella2012

   > Price: $390 (or Buy Now for $520) plus shipping (only USA)

   > Opinion: The very same kind of replica, but from a different seller. So, same opinion. This one comes with the original box and all the paperwork. It's a tad more expensive, though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301733647121

****

Is it me, or the "Only USA" seems to be becoming a thing? I mean, almost all the items I see on eBay lately are "Only USA" - what's happening? What is the position of international collectors (such as myself) if sellers don't wish to ship abroad anymore? That's something to think about.

Stay tuned for more, people!