Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest brings a prop from an iconic movie and got a massive 6-figure valuation (marketrealist.com)
A “Raiders of the Lost Ark” prop recently surfaced on “Antiques Roadshow,” surprising viewers and appraisers alike. The item in question?
A prototype of the iconic Ark of the Covenant. While not the actual ark used in the film, the piece, brought in by the son of an Industrial Light and Magic employee, is believed to be one of the very first versions created.
Expert James Supp examined the prototype, noting its hasty construction, evident glue marks, and repurposed trophy angels adorning the top. Despite its somewhat rough appearance, Supp declared it the closest anyone outside of Lucasfilm could get to owning the film’s Ark. The actual screen-used prop resides in the Lucasfilm Archives at Skywalker Ranch.
Supp estimated the prototype’s auction value between $80,000 and $120,000, with the potential to reach as high as $250,000. The guest, clearly pleased, quipped about the impressive valuation for an item made with “hot glue and spray paint.”
This isn’t the first time movie memorabilia has graced the “Antiques Roadshow” set. In a previous episode, swords belonging to the Wicked Witch of the West’s guards from “The Wizard of Oz” were appraised at $15,000 each.