Dinosaur HCNBs will recall that the piece of fur on the end of Gabrielle's gabwhacker is referred to as a "merkin." Go ahead, look it up, I'll wait. OR, watch this backstage ComicCon interview by Michael Ausiello with Lucy Lawless, promoting Spartacus. You'll learn what a merkin is there and you will never be the same. LL is relaxed, in high spirits and looks really happy. Nice to see. Anyone get STARZ in their cable package?
http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/07/27/wanna-see-lucy-lawless-completely-naked/
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Props: Orignal or Reproduction?
I've written about this problem before but recent eBay auctions bring the subject to the fore again. Original Xena props are hotly collectible, in particular Xena swords and chakrams of both designs. But original props are truly rare. And a large number of reproduction props were made to satisfy the needs of fans who could neither obtain a rare original prop or afford the much higher price an original prop would command.
eBay is one place where we see a lot of reproduction Xena props offered for sale as "original" or even "screen used" items. If all of the items offered for sale as "original" or "screen used" (and here I am still only talking about chakrams and Xena swords, though Gab Staffs might be added to this list) you would have a pile of props many times the number truly made for use on the show. The story about splinters from the "true Cross" comes to mind.
The source for these particular prop reproductions are varied: Todd Coyle's items (both unlicensed and licensed versions), those sold by Creation but made in New Zealand, those made by Icons (old design chakrams only), and the few one-offs I've seen made by both skilled and not so skilled individuals. Each of these sources have produced reproductions that have specific physical characteristics which are distinguishable from each other.
Some of these prop reproductions come with dubious or even no paperwork. There are very few "certificates of authenticity" sources that the collectors' network accept as legitimate. For the unknowing or inexperienced, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that an item they've purchased is an "original" prop when it's really a reproduction.
Frankly, some people don't care if they are buying a reproduction and some people only collect that type of prop. That's fine. It's the sellers who try to sell reproductions as "original" that get to me because new collectors might not know the difference and could end up spending a lot more money on a piece than it's worth. Trying to re-sell it to another collector is often the time that the buyer finds out the truth about a piece, and that's not a good experience.
And finally, this problem is not limited to the Hercules and Xena collecting community but is inherent in prop and costume collecting in general. You'll find the same issues for collectors of items from other television shows and movies. Be sure to ask a lot of questions before bidding or buying.
Be careful out there and Happy Hunting!
eBay is one place where we see a lot of reproduction Xena props offered for sale as "original" or even "screen used" items. If all of the items offered for sale as "original" or "screen used" (and here I am still only talking about chakrams and Xena swords, though Gab Staffs might be added to this list) you would have a pile of props many times the number truly made for use on the show. The story about splinters from the "true Cross" comes to mind.
The source for these particular prop reproductions are varied: Todd Coyle's items (both unlicensed and licensed versions), those sold by Creation but made in New Zealand, those made by Icons (old design chakrams only), and the few one-offs I've seen made by both skilled and not so skilled individuals. Each of these sources have produced reproductions that have specific physical characteristics which are distinguishable from each other.
Some of these prop reproductions come with dubious or even no paperwork. There are very few "certificates of authenticity" sources that the collectors' network accept as legitimate. For the unknowing or inexperienced, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that an item they've purchased is an "original" prop when it's really a reproduction.
Frankly, some people don't care if they are buying a reproduction and some people only collect that type of prop. That's fine. It's the sellers who try to sell reproductions as "original" that get to me because new collectors might not know the difference and could end up spending a lot more money on a piece than it's worth. Trying to re-sell it to another collector is often the time that the buyer finds out the truth about a piece, and that's not a good experience.
And finally, this problem is not limited to the Hercules and Xena collecting community but is inherent in prop and costume collecting in general. You'll find the same issues for collectors of items from other television shows and movies. Be sure to ask a lot of questions before bidding or buying.
Be careful out there and Happy Hunting!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Collector from the XPH Network has a few items up on eBay
Fellow collector and Xena Prop House regular Scott Williams has put up a few Hercules and Xena items up on eBay. You can check out all of his current auctions by clicking here. Two items to highlight are Octavius' costume Roman tunic and a corset design for a costume Lucy wears in the episode "Heart of Darkness." Below are photos and screencaps that I grabbed from Scot's auctions:
You can see the white tunic underneath Octavius' armor and belt.
This corset design, which looks silk-screened, is interesting because it mimics the design of Xena's copper and leather armor. Anyway, check out Scott's other items and Happy Hunting!
You can see the white tunic underneath Octavius' armor and belt.
This corset design, which looks silk-screened, is interesting because it mimics the design of Xena's copper and leather armor. Anyway, check out Scott's other items and Happy Hunting!
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