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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Icons Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade The Holy Grail Cup "Master"



"Choose wisely..."

"The Cup of a Carpenter..."

Yes....it's true. 25 years ago, in 1995, as Icons prepared in ultra-secrecy to pursue the first ever license issued by Lucasfilm Ltd. to produce 1:1 scale prop replicas from Star Wars, the company also prepped to secure the Indiana Jones license. It seemed a natural property to base Film replicas of historic icons on.

During Icons first historic trip to Skywalker Ranch in 1996 to conduct extensive product development in the famous Lucasfilm Archives warehouse, detailed photographs and video were taken not only of the props and miniatures utilized in the production of Star Wars, but also from the Indiana Jones Trilogy.


A decade ago, Icons maintained a worldwide network of sources for original prop, miniature and wardrobe reference material, which was rivaled only by the Planet Hollywood Restaurant Corporation, of which ironically, Icons consulted with and conducted restoration services for.

Icons utilized this network to track down the original mold and master for "The Holy Grail" used during the production of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in the United Kingdom.

The Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade "Holy Grail" prop replica cup is a gorgeous, 1st generation casting, taken directly from a screen-used original, which was custom painted to appear as if a very ancient cup (with simulated oxidization) and hand applied gold-metal leaf, all fabricated under the direct supervision of Film and Television professional craftspeople. This "master" still has a permanent Icons tag on the bottom of the cup. Note : this is not a typical fan-produced copy. Nor your average 4th generation bootleg version ! This is a rare, un-seen, licensed manufacturers "master".


Also included here, are 4 advertising layouts (test compositions, only a few sets ever printed). The much heralded "You don't have to go through this..." marketing campaign, conceptualized and designed by James Latta and Daren Dochterman. The ads concept basically shows Indiana Jones in precarious situations in Raiders of the Lost Ark. And states "You don't have to go through this....or this....to get this". "The Treasures of Indiana Jones, now...they can be your treasures too". An early rendition of an Icons logo can be seen at the bottom of the Idol head portion of the advertising concept.


4 comments:

  1. hello I would like to discuss with you your props
    I have 10,000 paper props from various film
    here is my msn herve19744@hotmail.fr

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  2. Fred wow its really an amazing piece. Did you score it from hawk?
    Fred I know they made the Idol but any Idea if the ark and stones got made? Nice find fred ;) That was not CAD lol

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  3. Hi.
    No, I got that one from Paul Francis. The original screen-used grail came from him.
    I know that the Stones and Ark were planned at Icons but never prototyped....I remember that Jim Latta often thought that making an Ark replica is one of the reasons why Icons went bankruptcy :-)
    The IDOL is shown in the blog...just a study model, not really a concept prototype or final prototype. Mike Rogers has one too.

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  4. Nice fred . I know there were a lot of rumors about Paul taking off with a ton of Icons stuff out the back door. I had even heard the black lagoon monster :) John was always looking for a gorilla rifle . I have spoke to the owner of the Idol about his.

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