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Sunday, November 7, 2010

Icons Mary Poppins Flying Umbrella Prop Prototype




Unseen for more than 20 years, the Icons - Mary Poppins umbrella prototype was the first to be presented to the Walt Disney Corporation, as a prototype for licensing for a 1:1 scale prop replica.

Disney borrowed the Icons umbrella and referenced it to make their first (lower-priced / less detailed) replica, as at the time, they did not know where the original "Hero" prop was and were totally unfamiliar with the Film & Television prop replica market.

Icons' head of  R&D Peter Greenwood tracked down the original plaster "Buck" (or sculpture master) for the prop Poppin's umbrella parrot handle, from the estate of the prop master on the original film. It was a first generation, plaster casting. The original buck was cast from a mold taken off of the original parrot-head sculpture, created by a member of the productions Art Department.

The umbrella portion of the prototype was made in the U.K. by an umbrella company, which was very difficult to track down. The fabric is old-fashioned and very thick, with nice quality accents. The parrot handle features inset glass eyes and amazing, detailed paint job. Very reminiscent of the screen-used original.

The picture below is a concept advertisement for the Poppins umbrella replica, with some Disney's annotations.


12 comments:

  1. Hi, Fred:

    These pictures are breath taking!!! How did you get these beautiful pictures? I am a big fan of Poppins and Disney and am a collector of props from the films. You wouldn't by chance have any forwarding information on where this umbrella is currently and if it's for sale? Or where I could have one made?

    Please do let me know. And thanks again. Keep up the good work. These pictures are such a find.

    Michael
    mgjames100@gmail.com

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  2. Thank you very much for your kind comment Michael.

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  3. Where were you able to get these pictures from!?

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  4. The umbrella is mine...so simple ;-)

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  5. where could I possibly get one of these? im wanting to make my own room styled as club 33 in disneyland and i need some prop replicas.
    if you could help me email me at two_be_me@hotmail.com

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  6. Sadly, you won't be able to acquire one like that as it is a one of a kind prototype from Icons Company which is no longer in existence. Maybe you can try on the Disney Stores or auction websites to find some similar replicas...

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  7. This is the piece that Disney "borrowed" sent to Taiwan and made their own version for resale as a much cheaper version. Undercutting Icons price and plans for the piece.

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  8. Another awesome find. Congratulations. I must say I enjoy seeing the paperwork / advertising comps etc. with the prop prototypes. It is ashame this piece was never released. Another Icon that was way ahead of it's time.

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  9. Any idea how icons would display a prop like this? like the endoarm maybe? just wondering bye the way great prototype.

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  10. Well..I have heard that the umbrella should have been displayed with a backing display showing the roofs of London !! To be verified.

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  11. If you own this umbrella here in the pictures, does the museum have the screen-used original?

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  12. LOL.....sadly...NO !!!
    Only Icons replicas here. Sometimes some pics of the screen-used pieces that were loaned to Icons to be studied or molded ;-)
    THX

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