My newest Blade Runner found-item prop

Today I added the newest addition to my Blade Runner prop collection. It's a found item, which makes it even better.

Spurred-on by Gabe's thread, I started my search for a "duck" Opium weight, much like his. I could find them all day long on eBay and in antique shops, but none came close to the screen-used "duck" Opium weight.

I threw myself into the world of Opium weights and Far-East antiques, and spent all of my "free time" for about 2 weeks learning about the weights, where they were made, when they were made, how they were certified by the government, etc.

I then learned something very important. Though the screen-used weight resembles a "duck" Opium weight (which do exist), the weight that was used is really not a "duck" at all. :confused

It's a mythical animal called a "Hintha bird". It's used in religion and culture in the area where the weights are made, and consequently, was eventually made into a weight (along with elephants, ducks, horses, etc.).

Armed with the knowledge of knowing what the animal really is, I went searching. I was able to locate one in the UK, and this morning I bought it... :cheers


Here's a pic of the weight a I bought, followed by a side-by-side comparison to the BR weight:






Whatcha think? Close enough?

Many thanks to Gabe for finding out that it was an "Opium weight" to begin with and starting me on my search. :thumbsup

J

 

WOW. Congrats.

That looks SPOT on.

*envy* :angry

 

COPYCAT. :lol

I'm flattered by the tribute, but in all fairness it was Killdozer who discovered what the item was when he posted this photo:



in this thread:

http://www.rpf.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=98013



And I see you've gone all serafino on us with the side-by-side comparison... :lol

Seriously, nice score, and welcome to the Blade Runner Duck Pit Club :thumbsup :cheers

- Gabe

 

Thanks. A •lot• of research and hunting went into finding that little sucker. l

 

Heh. Is that anything like "Fight Club"? 1st rule of Duck Pit Club: You must own a "duck". 2nd rule of Duck Pit Club: don't talk about Duck Pit Club. :lol

Thanks, and I'll take more pics when it arrives. Great, now I'm nervous about it shipping over here from "across the pond". :confused

 

No, that would simply be "Duck Club." Or should I say: "Welcome to the Opium Duck Den." :lol Actually, when I posted I was thinking of "The Snake Pit" club in Bwade Wunnah:

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Taffey Lewis presents Miss Salome and the duck. Watch her take the pleasure from the fowl that once corrupted man."

:lol

- Gabe

 

That's not EVEN right.

 

I found a lot of information in this article from 1982, including nice hintha weight pictures and reference photos.