Gold Magazine June - July 2013, Issue 27

Reproduction Stormtrooper helmet from Star Wars. Yours for $1.500 Hepburn has become as much a household name as the title Breakfast at Tiffany’s has infiltrated the world’s collective cultural consciousness. Moreover, the Givenchy dress the actress wore in the movie is credited as having inspired the ‘little black dress’, making it a mainstay of every woman’s wardrobe. Oozing elegance and class, this dress (worn by Hepburn in the opening credits of the film) cemented her status as a style icon and stands as a stalwart symbol of Hollywood glamour. The price one anonymous bidder chose to pay at a 2006 Christie’s auction to acquire it? $923,187. Another example for your consideration: in 1984, whilst making a little-anticipated science-fiction action movie, director James Cameron and crew knew little of the success that awaited them on the other side of the film’s release. Almost 30 years have since past, and The Terminator has been preserved at the recommendation of The Library of Congress in the United States National Film Registry, being deemed ‘culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant’. Movie collectors agree. Following the explosive climax of the movie, Shay Austin, assistant art director on The Terminator, collected a piece – an arm, to be exact – of the cybernetic killing machine, (brought to life by Arnold Schwarzenegger), keeping it safe until recently. The ‘T-800’ arm has garnered great interest from prospective collectors, with estimates circling the $15,000 mark. More impressive still, a full T-800 Endoskeleton brought to the auction market by special effects master, Stan Winston, sold for a staggering $425,000. Besides the difference in make-up (arm versus entire body), expert Maddalena maintains that collectors should not underestimate the power of provenance. Put simply, the reason Winston’s item sold for so much more than Austin’s item’s estimate, is because of who he is. Audrey Hepburn has become as much a household name as the title Breakfast at Tiffany’s has infiltrated the world’s collective cultural consciousness Artefacts from key creators in the movie command more in value than lesser known crew. Maddalena warns: “The biggest part of these collectibles is where they come from, the authenticity and the provenance.” James Comisar, a Los Angeles-based curator and a consultant in the field, agrees. He cautions that prospective collectors must, even when sure that an item is coming from a verified source, engage in a little detective work to ensure that the piece in question is also as authentic as its seller. Consider the memorable leather jacket worn by Schwarzenegger in the Terminator franchise. With nearly 40 identical versions made for production, not all were worn onscr VV

Gold Magazine June - July 2013, Issue 27 | Page 99