In May, Star Wars: A New Hope celebrates the big 4-0. The iconic film was released on May 25, 1977, and fans around the world are marking the milestone with special screenings, sweepstakes, and limited-edition merchandise. But the most over-the-top anniversary homage to George Lucas’s space opera may belong to Tanaka Kikinzoku Jewelry, a fine jewelry retailer in Japan. Mashable reports that the company has created a solid 24-karat-gold sculpture of Darth Vader’s mask, priced at $1.4 million.
The 33-pound gold mask is currently on display at Tanaka Kikinzoku’s flagship store in Tokyo. Star Wars fans with cash to spare can purchase it on May 4, known among fans as “Star Wars Day.” (It’s rooted in the pun “May the fourth be with you.”)
This isn’t Tanaka Kikinzoku’s first pricey pop-culture homage, and it likely won’t be their last: In past years, the company has made headlines for creating a gold cast of soccer player Lionel Messi’s left foot and a pure gold replica of a Gundam robot.
Can’t afford Tanaka Kikinzoku’s latest? Japan Times reports that the company is also selling 77 Star Wars-themed commemorative plaques, adorned with three pure gold coins for $11,000. The coins are emblazoned with Star Wars-inspired designs and the number “1977525,” or May 25, 1977.
[h/t Mashable]
April 26, 2017 – 1:00pm