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A screen-matched Death Star turbolaser tower model miniature from Richard Marquand's Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Much like its predecessor, the Death Star II's surface was lined with powerful gun turbolaser turrets, with this particular turret located near the Emperor's (Ian McDiarmid) Tower. The hand-painted brown details in the tower's darker panels, such as the vertical detail that forms the "]"-like shape, screen-match to the wide establishing shot of the towers lining the Death Star's surface before the scene where the Emperor gave the order to send the fleet to the far side of Endor.

The Rebel fleet's assault on both Death Stars in the Battles of Yavin and Endor in A New Hope and Return of the Jedi, respectively, are considered two of the most visually-stunning sequences in the Star Wars franchise. The elaborate space battles were brought to life by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) through the use of expansive model miniatures representing the heavily armed surface and trenches of the Death Stars. The film earned a Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects at the 56th Academy Awards®.

Crafted by ILM, this tower is made of cast resin painted matte grey with select panel sections given additional dark grey, brown, and white highlights. The bottom of the tower is hollow and the turret at the top features two small grey gun barrels. The tower exhibits some signs of wear from use and age, including having undergone sympathetic restoration to reattach the gun barrels after they were previously broken off. Dimensions: 4 cm x 4 cm x 12.25 cm (1.5" x 1.5" x 4.75")

Estimate: £15,000 - 30,000 Ω

View all lots from STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983)

View all lots from STAR WARS - ALL ITEMS