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A Millennium Falcon model miniature constructed and painted by artists at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) for Irvin Kershner's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. On both Empire and Return of the Jedi, ILM sometimes used off-the-shelf model kits (which were released after the original Star Wars) for production purposes including video animatics and shots where they would be small in the frame and a larger hero model was not needed. This model originates from the collection of Empire's producer Gary Kurtz.

In the decades since its release, The Empire Strikes Back has often been cited as the best film in the Star Wars franchise and some regard it as one of the greatest films ever made. It was nominated for three Academy Awards®, winning Best Sound in addition to receiving a Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects. The United States Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2010.

The specific usage of this model at ILM is unknown, though producer Gary Kurtz told the consignor it was specifically used in filming. It is uncertain whether there are shots in the film that feature off-the-shelf model kit buildups such as this one to represent the Falcon and therefore Kurtz's statement of usage cannot be independently verified. Regardless, the Falcon model is a beautifully-constructed example of one of cinema's most famous starships, features ILM's fantastic paintwork and is from Kurtz's personal collection. It was previously loaned by Kurtz to the London Film School for many years and was gifted to the consignor when the school returned it to him.

Constructed from injection-molded plastic, this hand-painted model features a grey base coat with expertly-finished details such as pipes, tubes, and finely-painted weathering. It is intentionally distressed to appear well-used and battle-damaged with exhaust and blast burn markings. A piece of reflective Scotchlite material at the back of the model gives the look of illumination in the engines when light is applied. The Falcon model is mounted to a black display base with the Empire logo applied to the front corner; ILM used similar bases for a number of models that were gifted after Empire opened in 1980.

This model was mounted to the base via a short metal post, however a small section on the underside was later cut around the post. It has recently been updated so the ship can rest on this mounting base. This lot exhibits some dirt, glue residue, and material brittleness. Dimensions: 45.75 cm x 33 cm x 10.25 cm (18" x 13" x 4")

Estimate: £30,000 - 60,000 Ω

View all lots from STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980)

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