Staff of Ra Head Piece

[VonMagnum]

The smaller of two Egyptian necklaces I ordered that are based on the same basic image as the 'original' Egyptian Staff of Ra Medallion (Horus) has arrived. It's actually much smaller than the picture. The two red jewels are the gold 'terminal points' on the Raiders medallion that the metal "ohm" band wraps around it with. The big red 'sun' one on the bird's head became the bird's eye jewel instead.

 

[VonMagnum]

My "Belloq" German Nazi version (Made by RM) Medallion just arrived..... vastly better than the "Reel Art" version, IMO.

of the Staff of Ra

 

[VonMagnum]

I noticed comments earlier in the thread that the "Noble Collection" version isn't very good. I'm curious what precisely is 'bad' about it? I know it lacks the slot on the bottom to mount it on a staff. Beyond that, I'm not sure. Something seems slightly 'off' looking about it in photos, but it appears to have reasonably good feather detail. I have a few items from Noble (Harry Potter crystal ball and Bella's push dagger and they're both pretty nice, but I know some other things they've made have been cheap).

One has become available for sale recently (out of print) and so I'm curious why it's considered poor.

 

[VonMagnum]

I found someone else that appears to have the same exact 'mold' version of the mystery "ILM" one I have with the weird tail feathers right down the little missing bit on the "ohm" bit that wraps around from where the bird's feet would be on the red globes on the Egyptian original. It's even in the same color as far as I can tell (he calls it "Polished Bronze" and has the same 3-prong mount on it as well. I've sent him a message asking him if he has more information about its precise origins since I'm sure he kept track of such things with that extensive collection of Indy props he has. I don't know if I'll get a response, though.

It's here ( Headpiece to the Staff of Ra <--- Polished Bronze Medallion appears to match in every detail I can tell from that not-so-closeup view). It could be a coincidence it has the same flaws in the same spots, but I doubt it. I gather that little tiny missing/thinner bit must be like that on the mold itself to show up in both castings.

 

[Serenity]

That’s Indy Magnoli’s version. He’s a member here.

 

[VonMagnum]

That’s Indy Magnoli’s version. He’s a member here.

Ah, so he actually made all three of those versions himself? Did he sell some at some point? (his site suggests don't ask about buying any) I guess that means I don't know if this one just happens to look like that one at a distance (and just happens to have the same little flaw) or he actually made it.

Edit: OK, I found a discussion where someone mentions being able to buy them so I'm guessing that's my medallion maker for that one. I don't know if this guy I bought it from on eBay didn't bought it second hand himself or just forgot where he got it (seems odd).

Edit 2: I've contacted Indy Magnoli and he asked for some photos to examine. He said he should be able to verify if that's one of his for sure.

Edit 3: Indy Magnoli has confirmed he believes that "ILM" one I have is one of his medallions.

 

[VonMagnum]

I can't believe I just bought ANOTHER medallion.

This one purports to be over 20 years old, made of either solid brass or bronze and comes with the full staff assembled as well (uses the same 3-prong style system as that Indy Magnoli version I have by the looks of it so I'm guessing they 'might' be interchangeable on the staff itself. Oddly, it looks identical to the Acme mold, IMO (neck width and bird 'head' width with the same outer braid style and more detail in the tail feathers than the main ones just like it) only not shiny looking gold (flatter brass or bronze look) with a clear real amber crystal. It's supposedly made by MK (Michael Key) (indygear.com) and later drilled at Elstree Studios by the guy's uncle who worked there (outside of London). The question will be where to mount this thing in my home theater room (plan to leave it on the staff fully assembled).

 

[Serenity]

A few things now that I'm not on mobile:

My main issue with the Noble version because it cuts off some of the tail feathers at the bottom. Plus the details had the chance to be really sharp and clean, but I think the plating process really softened them.

Good to hear you have one of Indy's, I should have recognized it. I had one of his bronze ones a long time ago and really liked it.

I saw the last one you bought on eBay and yeah it's one of the solid bronze ones. If it's one of the AcmeMagico versions, then it's the version that the AcmeArtifacts version is based on/cast off of. AM also did a pewter and gold plated version that has incredibly crisp details and I've always wanted one of those even though I now have the RelicMaker ones.

On an unrelated note, anyone who is still looking to buy one of the Bam versions, make sure to watch out for the same casting/plating flaw that mine has. I've seen it on a number of them. I was going to buy a replacement that popped up on eBay, but when I asked for more pictures from the seller (svacards) they were pretty ****** and wouldn't provide any more.

 

[VonMagnum]

A few things now that I'm not on mobile:

My main issue with the Noble version because it cuts off some of the tail feathers at the bottom. Plus the details had the chance to be really sharp and clean, but I think the plating process really softened them.

Good to hear you have one of Indy's, I should have recognized it. I had one of his bronze ones a long time ago and really liked it.

Yeah, he says it's solid polished bronze (advertised by the guy who sold it as antique gold). I guess that explains why there's no evidence of pewter underneath where there's a scratch on one side.

I saw the last one you bought on eBay and yeah it's one of the solid bronze ones. If it's one of the AcmeMagico versions, then it's the version that the AcmeArtifacts version is based on/cast off of. AM also did a pewter and gold plated version that has incredibly crisp details and I've always wanted one of those even though I now have the RelicMaker ones.

.

OK, that makes sense since it looks like the Acme Artifacts version in details, but with a different finish. I guess I own two bronze ones now (goes well with that "worthless bronze medallion" line from the movie). I'll be curious to see if they fit each others staff attachments (since it was drilled later it could have been done to fit with and Indy attachment as it looks quite similar even to Indy (I showed him the photos).

On an unrelated note, anyone who is still looking to buy one of the Bam versions, make sure to watch out for the same casting/plating flaw that mine has. I've seen it on a number of them. I was going to buy a replacement that popped up on eBay, but when I asked for more pictures from the seller (svacards) they were pretty ****** and wouldn't provide any more.

Bad batch maybe? I got mine from a third party seller for half the normal price (looks brand new). It didn't have the issue. I'm thinking about using that one for a party project idea I had to try out. If it works out, I'll post some photos. I don't think anyone's thought of it before.

 

[VonMagnum]

My Staff of Ra Medallion Lapel / Tie Pin just arrived (hard to photo up close due to lack of macro focus; shown with two different cameras). It's tiny, but kind of cool for a tie or lapel. The detail is quite extraordinary for something so small (it's around 2/3 to maybe 3/4 of an inch in diameter or so).

 

[mrwax]

That's awesome! I'm going to have to look for one of those.

 

[VonMagnum]

My Michael Key (MK) Medallion with Staff and Staff Attachments has arrived....(that's 8 I have now plus a lapel pin version).

It definitely resembles the Acme version to my eyes, but I think it has more detail (should be an older parent mold if they are indeed the same basic mold as this one is well over 20 years old according to the seller). The texture/feel is like the Indy Magnoli one I have (both solid bronze). I think with some ink treatment or the like, more detail would come out. There's clearly more feather detail on many parts than seems obvious to the eye (not deep). All in all, it's a pretty nice piece, IMO. It's not as shiny as the Acme one (which is gold plated and has a mirror back normally), but this one looks more 'authentic' as an actual relic (the bronze castings just seem really cool to me and resemble gold, but I'm not so scared if I scratched it you'd see pewter underneath. Actually, the Indy Magnoli one had a scratch on one side and it just looks like wear). It still has a nice polished sheen to it in lighting and a real crystal in it.

The MK one 'almost' fits the Indy staff mount and vice versa (center pin is just slightly off I think). They have a different inner diameter so I can't easily swap them out on the staff despite them being the same length and looking the same on the outside (I could probably fit some material inside to make it fit, I suppose). The RM staff is much wider in diameter than either by comparison.

Here's some photos of it (front back) and on the staff (staff photo not so great; I've got to find a way to mount the staff in the room without a chance of it falling over).

 

[VonMagnum]

Medallion #9 (10 if you count the lapel pin) is on its way....

 

[VonMagnum]

OK, heres some more pics of both sides.

I'm highly curious about this particular version of the medallion. Accurate or not, it's right pretty looking. Detail isn't as good as some, but certainly isn't terrible. I like the outer rope band (different looking and clean) and the red gem is a nice variation (obviously I don't want to keep adding medallions to my collection that all look exactly the same...what would be the point?)

Can someone (especially the original poster) identify this version (make/availability/price) ? If it's not too much, I wouldn't mind adding one of these in my collection....

 

[VonMagnum]

My next full sized Staff of Ra Medallion (#9) has arrived. It's the "IMAM" Headpiece by Relicmaker pictured below. It's a quite lovely piece and clearly the most screen accurate version I've got or likely to ever own (the odds of finding a 1st gen version at a remotely reasonable price are about the same as an alien landing in my backyard, I would think).

I think the wire braid on this Relicmaker one (3rd picture shows it from an edge viewpoint) is what really stands it apart. The MK version I have is solid bronze (great feel) and with a bit of 'aging' ink to bring out the edges, its detail would probably still be a fair deal less but at least reasonably good by comparison (more than the child mold Acme version that came later) and it also has the real jewel (Acme has an acrylic mirrored one), but its braid doesn't compare to the soldered braid here (bronze versus gold plated is subjective, of course; they both look great, IMO). The Relicmaker medallion is clearly much more detailed than Acme or even MK, but I still give the Acme version points for just the right amount of "polish" to be viewed as a necklace medallion (even though it's not the 'Raven Bar' version. It just kind of grabs the eye a bit better in the display between the polish and mirror back on the jewel, but clearly lacks in detail and accuracy of the wire braid and even the width of the bird neck, really, a detail the MK version also shares, which I'm unsure of the difference.

But this is why I like having multiple versions. They each seem to have their own charm in a way (e.g. the two solid Bronze versions I own have a really nice 'feel' to them that's hard to describe that makes them really nice in their own right, even if they're slightly less detailed (MK version that has parent mold to Acme and its built-in braid) or have the tail feather section off a bit (Indy Magnoli that also has a different built-in braid). The version above I've asked about (no replies so far) has a clear appeal to the shiny polish and sleek red jewel as well that's its own. I guess I'll keep an eye out for #10 now (e.g. I like that one above and the "McGuffin #1" on Etsy looks interesting too (resin + copper braid with extreme feather detail, possibly redrawn, but it's painted, of course and has an acrylic jewel).

 

[VonMagnum]

Does anyone have any photos of the Acme Magico version, particularly in gold plated and bronze? I want to compare it to the Michael Key version I have that sure seems to use the same mold.


Also, has anyone noticed that while the movie implies the Staff of Ra is 5 kadam high (60 inches) that the staff Harrison Ford is holding in the movie is taller than him and he's 6'1" tall? That means the staff he's using is OVER 72 inches high, not under it. I do recall reading that the actual inscription says ADD 1 kadam, not remove 1 kadam. It sure looks like 1 foot taller than Harrison Ford in the movie (see snapshot). The "MK" one I bought includes the staff and it's 74.5 (72 without the bottom attachment) inches tall at the medallion 'eye' with the bottom attachment (which inserts into the 'mold' in the map room). I mentioned the discrepency to the previous owner, but he said they were looking at the film footage, but that looks about 1 foot taller to my eyes (again see below), so I guess my Staff must be the German one and I'd be digging in the wrong place....

(Yes, I even found a movie mistakes site confirming what I thought: Movie Mistakes: The Incredible Shrinking Indiana Jones)

 

[mrwax]

Also, has anyone noticed that while the movie implies the Staff of Ra is 5 kadam high (60 inches) that the staff Harrison Ford is holding in the movie is taller than him and he's 6'1" tall? That means the staff he's using is OVER 72 inches high, not under it. I do recall reading that the actual inscription says ADD 1 kadam, not remove 1 kadam. It sure looks like 1 foot taller than Harrison Ford in the movie (see snapshot). The "MK" one I bought includes the staff and it's 74.5 (72 without the bottom attachment) inches tall at the medallion 'eye' with the bottom attachment (which inserts into the 'mold' in the map room). I mentioned the discrepency to the previous owner, but he said they were looking at the film footage, but that looks about 1 foot taller to my eyes (again see below), so I guess my Staff must be the German one and I'd be digging in the wrong place....

Totally agree, should be about 7' instead of 5', if for no other reason than a staff that's shorter than Ford wouldn't look nearly as epic in those shots.

 

[VonMagnum]

Totally agree, should be about 7' instead of 5', if for no other reason than a staff that's shorter than Ford wouldn't look nearly as epic in those shots.

I guess the real question is why would they change the script at the last minute when both it and the medallion say to ADD a kadam/cubit instead of removing it? The scene shows the taller staff. The only thing I can think of is the "prostrate before God" concept that might indicate the staff shouldn't be too tall (but then since it's honoring God, it should probably be taller and hence the original thinking and the epic scene).

 

[agent5]

Totally agree, should be about 7' instead of 5', if for no other reason than a staff that's shorter than Ford wouldn't look nearly as epic in those shots.

The staff is 7 feet tall. Its on the Tanis Digs call sheet.
I also have pics of both Acmemagico headpiece offerings but can't seem to access my photos. I'll post em up if I figure it out.

 

[mrwax]

It is, but the translator and Sallah say six kadam is about 72 inches, then take back one which to me would imply 5 feet. It looks like a mistake on the translator's part, or a strange last minute change per the article VonMagnum posted.