The headpiece from the Staff of Ra, one of the key props in Raiders of the Lost Ark, is set to be auctioned off. Arguably the most popular Indiana Jones entry to date, Raiders of the Lost Ark won four Oscars and helped to usher in a new age of action-adventure cinema. Raiders also introduced audiences to the character of Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), a somewhat harried, yet admired archaeology professor who was more at home in the jungles of South America than he was in a classroom.
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jones is informed that his services are required for the pursuit of the Ark of the Covenant, setting him out on what becomes a dangerous and extensive race to beat the Nazis to the punch. But in order to discover the resting place of the Ark, Jones must first travel to Nepal, where he’s confident that an old flame can help him get his hands on the headpiece of the Staff of Ra. When affixed to a staff, the headpiece allows the sun’s rays to highlight exactly where the Ark is buried. Unfortunately for Jones, despite successfully obtaining the headpiece and using to find the Ark's location, things don't exactly go as planned.
As far as Indiana Jones lore goes, there’s only a few other objects from the films that could be more valuable to collectors. The headpiece of the Staff of Ra is an iconic part of the history of cinema, and now fans have the rare opportunity to own it. During an upcoming Prop Store auction (via Collider) taking place this August 26th and 27th, the headpiece will be among several movie props open to bidding. This Raiders of the Lost Ark prop doesn’t come cheap, however, with an estimated sale price set between $100,000 and $200,000. It is also believed to be the only “Raven bar” style headpiece ever offered at auction. Check out an image of the headpiece from the Staff of Ra prop, below.
Two versions of the prop were made for the filming of Raiders, with this version - the “Raven bar” headpiece - being a simpler, more scaled down version that was used for with the staff and in the film’s various action sequences. The prop is referred to as the “Raven bar” headpiece thanks to it's involvement in an extensive fight scene that takes place at Marion Ravenwood’s Nepal-based drinking hole, The Raven bar. A second more detailed headpiece was constructed by private jewelers for close up shots, but that is not the headpiece that’s up for auction. A letter of authenticity is also included with the prop, ensuring that whoever can afford this piece of cinematic history is also assured they’ve chosen wisely.
It’s unfortunate that the prop is so highly priced as to render it out of the reach of most Indy fans. Yet at the same time, this is not just a collectible figurine or toy. The “Raven bar” headpiece is a piece of modern day art, though Raiders of the Lost Ark fans are unlikely to ever see it exhibited anywhere. A high price doesn’t guarantee that the prop will be taken care of by whoever buys it, but anyone who can afford to lay down this kind of money isn’t likely to take its purchase lightly.
Source: Prop Store (via Collider)
