Keen buyers at Spartacus auction

A rack of swords was the highest-selling item at an auction of props from the TV show Spartacus yesterday, being snapped up for $3500.

Webb's auctioneer James Hogan told NBR ONLINE all 650 lots sold.

"There were a few pieces some people really wanted.

"I had one buyer who said to me, 'Oh my God, those candlesticks, they're from episode four, series two, my favourite episode. I need them'.

"And I recognised him afterwards and he had a great smile on his face."

Other popular items included another box of swords which sold for $2600 and a model baby for about $600.

A jewelry box used by Lucy Lawless' character sold for $1025.

"That was a very basic little prop, nothing really to write home about."

Mr Hogan says all the items sold for more than $100,000 in total, which is a good result considering what they had to work with.

"What we had wasn't what they call the 'hero' pieces – the costumes and the really serious weaponry.

"That stuff has all been shipped to the US and will be sold via the internet later.

"What we had was great gear, but a lot of people were asking after the costumes and the 'real' swords."

Mr Hogan says there were about 250 people at the auction initially, but this was dwindled down to a "hard core" of about 50 later.

"Those people were probably from prop companies who were picking up things they knew they could use again."

The final series of Spartacus, which was filmed in Auckland, will be broadcast early next year.

Caleb Allison
Mon, 10 Dec 2012