Darth Vader’s lightsaber sells at public sale for over $3.6 million

A lightsaber Darth Vader used within the Star Wars movies “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” offered at public sale Thursday for greater than $3.6 million.

The iconic prop had been estimated to promote for between $1 and $3 million, based on the public sale website Propstore, which hosted the bidding. There had been 31 bids, with the profitable one at $3,654,000.

“Wielded by both David Prowse” — the Darth Vader actor — “and stunt performer Bob Anderson, this is the primary dueling prop created for Vader’s character in both Empire and Jedi,” the positioning says. “It saw extensive use during the filming of both movies and is one of the most memorable film props from the original trilogy.”

The lightsaber was offered in a Los-Angeles based mostly public sale of over 1,000 Hollywood costumes, props and extra. Brandon Alinger, the CEO of Propstore, mentioned they acquired a “cold call” in regards to the lightsaber on a Friday afternoon — a “gentleman called in and said, ‘I have a lightsaber.'”

“We were able to work out not only which character used it, but exactly how it’s used,” Alinger advised CBS News, “and you can see the small steel post that comes out of the top of it here, that’s how they actually mounted the blade on it.”

Propstore says the lightsaber was constituted of a Fifties digicam flash bulb attachment and “expertly modified by the production team into a lightsaber.” It says the piece “bears authentic signs of wear” that “serve as compelling evidence of the lightsaber’s direct involvement in the action — testament to its film-used authenticity.”

“It’s really an unprecedented piece,” Alinger mentioned.

The public sale, which is ongoing by way of Saturday, was providing digital and in-person bidding on the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. It was anticipated to internet round $10 million.

Adam Yamaguchi

contributed to this report.