Darth Maul’s (Ray Park) lightsaber hilt from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. This version of the lightsaber was created specifically for stunt purposes during the final battle sequence in Theed Palace, in which the Sith Apprentice fought Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).

Renowned stunt coordinator Nick Gillard, who worked on the Star Wars prequel trilogy, designed this hilt for a specific manoeuvre in the battle scene, in which Darth Maul jumped up and pivoted while a lightsaber blade swiped beneath him. In order for Park to safely hold the lightsaber and perform the move, the hilt needed extra support, so was attached to a metal rig for filming. Due to the fast-paced movements in the battle, it is unclear whether this particular sequence made the final cut of the film.

The double-ended hilt is cast in resin with a metal internal core adding weight. Finished in faux-silver paint, alternating control lock buttons and red activator buttons run down the length of the piece. Shades of dark grey have been used to give additional depth to detailing throughout, including the two ribbed handgrips and parts of the blade emitter plates. Both ends are open, exposing the internal metal rod where the metal rig would have been fastened. The hilt displays paint wear from use on production, exposing the resin beneath — notably on some of the buttons — and the lot shows minor marks and scuffs. Dimensions: 47 cm x 5 cm x 5 cm (18 1/2″ x 2″ x 2″)

£10,000 – 15,000