A Galaxy Far, Far Away… Now Accepting Bids! May the Funds Be With You (Yes, That’s C-3PO’s Head)
The Force is strong in the auction room right now.
The auction world has officially entered its Star Wars era. Among the standout lots is a piece that proves even in a galaxy far, far away, losing your head can be extremely lucrative. Up for sale is a light-up head of C-3PO from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Not a replica. Not a background prop. This is the only known example of Threepio’s head from the second film ever to hit the collector market. Estimate? A cool $350,000 to $700,000. Turns out protocol droids age better than most humans.
If a disembodied golden head feels a little intense, the auction also delivers something more heroic and slightly less unsettling. Enter the lightsaber hilt used by Rey and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Seen during Rey’s clash with Kylo Ren and later handed back to Luke on Ahch-To, the weapon carries all the emotional weight of destiny, legacy, and unresolved family issues. Its estimate sits at $50,000 to $100,000, making it one of the few life-changing purchases that doesn’t require a crystal or Jedi vows.
Together, these lots read like a greatest-hits album of Star Wars obsession. They’re not just props, they’re pop-culture relics, once handled by Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill, now ready to be worshipped in climate-controlled rooms by people who take their fandom very seriously and their investments even more so.
It’s a reminder that in today’s collector economy, nostalgia is currency, mythology is liquid, and yes, sometimes the most valuable thing in the room is literally just a robot’s head. The Force may be invisible, but at this auction, the bids are very real.
Propstore, one of the world’s leading entertainment memorabilia auction houses, returns this spring with an exceptional lineup of film and television props, costumes, production materials, and more, at its first Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction of the year, taking place from 25–27 March 2026 in Los Angeles. The three-day event will present more than 1,550 rare lots available for worldwide bidding, with a combined pre-sale estimate of $9 million.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
Leading the auction are two iconic grail pieces from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), presented following the film’s landmark 50th anniversary last year. Headlining the selection is the screen-matched Harpoon Gun used by Quint (Robert Shaw) and Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss), accompanied by its original case from aboard the Orca. The piece carries an estimate of $250,000–$500,000. Also offered is Quint’s screen-matched Fenwick fishing rod with production-used reel. Featured during the film’s early shark encounter and handled by Quint, Hooper, and Brody, the rod is estimated at $75,000–$150,000. Together, these pieces stand as two of the most significant artifacts to ever surface from the movie and head to public auction. Two further highlights come from Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning epic Gladiator (2000). Leading the pair is Maximus’ (Russell Crowe) arena helmet and mask, a standout piece originating from the personal collection of legendary Australian rugby union player David Campese, to whom it was gifted directly by Crowe. The helmet is estimated at $125,000–$250,000. Also offered is the helmet of Tigris of Gaul (Sven-Ole Thorsen), the feared and previously undefeated gladiator defeated by Maximus in one of the film’s most iconic battles. Originating directly from its designer, illustrator Sylvain Despretz, the helmet draws inspiration from the French comic series Astérix and Murena and carries a pre-sale estimate of $50,000–$100,000.
Registration is now open, and the full catalog is available at: https://propstoreauction.com/auctions/info/id/496.