Generic Lego LogoToy Fair 2013 also brings us goodies from Lego for fans of Middle-earth. As you all know, Lego has been creating some great sets based on events that happened during The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey movies. During Toy Fair we got to see more from The Lord of the Rings, covering The Council of Elrond, The Corsair Ship sequence, Gandalf the Grey vs Saruman, and The Black Gates. The Wizard Battle will be a 113 piece set with a price tag of $13, The Black Gates set is a 656 piece set with a $60 price tag, Council of Elrond a 243 piece set costing $30, and The Corsair Ship set, which has 756 pieces, costs $100. All four of these sets are due to arrive in June of this year. They also had a card at the show mentioning that sets for The Desolation of Smaug will be arriving in December of 2013.

You can check out a ton of pictures from Figures.Com in their The Lord of the Rings gallery.

You can also check out videos from the booth via FBTB.Com from their The Lord of the Rings video page.

We are only two weeks away from the Tolkien weekend event of the year in Hollywood, CA! Both ‘The Unexpected Art Show‘ and ‘The One Expected Party(Tickets are still available!) can only happen with the generous support of our volunteer staff and some very generous sponsors. For the next two weeks we will be sharing with you the stories behind the scenes of the party as well as information about those companies who have decided to lend their financial support behind this unique event.

Today we’d like to feature our first sponsor, The Noble Collection:

The Noble Collection

The Noble Collection

The Noble Collection is a private held company based in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The Noble Collection has established the premier position in collectibles and movie props. By bringing heightened concept, detailed sculpture and design to each piece, the company has set new standards that have captured the loyalty of collectors, and brought a new generation of enthusiasts into this revered art form.

You are most familiar with The Noble Collection’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit collectibles, but they also create many other quality products from other licenses like Superman, The Dark Knight, Green Lantern, Harry Potter, Avatar and many more. Visit them online at NobleCollection.com.

Besides financially supporting the party, The Noble Collection will be both showcasing their products and then donating those items to be awarded to fans at the end of the evening. Attendees will have the chance to walk away with some marvelous items from The Hobbit.

[Purchase Tickets] [Art Show Tickets] [The Noble Collection]

 

 

 

hobbitoutofthefirealrg2In their latest newsletter, Weta Workshop featured yet another amazing collectible from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: the Out of the Fire – Eagles Rescue art print. This collectible captures the out of the frying pan and into the fire sequence of both the book and the movie. This beautiful art print is by artist Nick Keller, one of Weta’s talented designers. The print captures Gandalf in the trees as fire rages around him and the Eagles  swoop down to save the day once more. The print is in-stock and should ship soon after ordering. Plus, from now through February 12th, Weta Workshop is offering free shipping on select prints. Be sure to order theOut of the Fire – Eagles Rescue art print today!

http://www.theonering.net/party/We are only 20 days away from ‘The One Expected Party‘ and we are very excited to share with you the preliminary list of auction and raffle items coming to the party. By far the highlight of the event will be a 2002 Sideshow/Weta Collectibles Balrog Statue – Artist Proof. Yes, THAT Balrog statue – the one that has sold on eBay for a small fortune. We’ve also got a Gollum statue from Weta Collectibles signed by Andy Serkis himself! And if you are looking for even more collectibles from the early 2000s…how about the Houghton Mifflin ‘No Admittance Except on Party Business’ – Bookends? Check out the Raffles/Auctions page for more items, but I’m sure we’ll have more to share as we get closer to the event. Remember, tickets are still available for both the party and ‘The Unexpected Art Show‘ – so snag your tickets today! [Auction/Raffle Listing] [Party Tickets] [Art Show Tickets]

hobbit_orcrist_c_lrg Tonight a new item from Weta Workshop has been made available for order: Orcrist, Master Swordsmith’s Edition. If you’re a fan of what you’ve seen on-screen, and want to own an item that is truly as close to what was used in the film as possible, then this item is for you. Peter Lyon, Master Swordsmith, who helped create the amazing weapons you saw used in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, has created another amazing replica in Orcrist. Orcrist is the fifth sword Peter created for Weta giving fans a chance to bring piece of Middle-earth home to their collections. This replica is an outstanding blend of steel with a dragon’s tooth resin  handle molded to look like wood. Orcrist costs $9,900 and when you place your order you can also get the amazing scabbard that Thorin wore in the movie.

Here is how Weta describes Orcrist:

Forged long ago in the lost Elf kingdom of Gondolin, Orcrist, the ‘goblin cleaver’, was a legendary blade, well known to the wise of Middle-earth and infamous among their enemies. Having disappeared for centuries, the sword would reappear in, of all places, a Troll hoard, where, among the detritus and ruin, it catches the eye of Thorin Oakenshield. To the Dwarf, well versed in the crafting of fine weapons, it is a sword of peerless craft, but it is Elrond, lord and lore-master of Rivendell, who is able to name the blade and tell Thorin of its prestigious lineage. No finer sword could a king of any race wish for.

Orcrist was designed by Weta senior concept designer Paul Tobin and made at Weta Workshop in New Zealand for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey by Master Swordsmith Peter Lyon. The fifth sword in Weta’s Master Swordsmith’s Collection, Orcrist takes swordmaking even further than previous swords in the series. The first single edged blade in The Master Swordsmith’s Collection, it encompasses a multitude of sword making, metal crafting and wood working techniques. It joins the previous swords in the series: Andúril, Strider’s Sword, Glamdring and the most recently launched sword, Sting – still available to order!

Orcrist is made with the same attention to detail that the swordsmiths of the lost realm of Gondolin would have required. Peter Lyon took Paul Tobin’s design and created a piece of art and a usable weapon wrapped in one. The blade is made from tempered spring steel and the dragon’s tooth grip is cast from CC60 urethane, painted and sealed under resin. On the cross is the name “Orcrist” etched in runes and the gently curvaceous blade, ground from spring steel, features etched elven runes stating “The Serpent’s Tooth”. On the pommel are four cubic zirconia gemstones inlaid.

The scabbard is made from a combination of white oak and steel and connects to the leather belt with leather straps and buckles. The inscription translates as “Born from the Maws of Dragons I am Always Hungry and Thirsty”. The belt is made from embossed leather with steel buckle, loop and tip. It features straps for attaching the scabbard. Thorin wears his sword on his back and this belt is designed to be worn over the shoulder. This sword and its accessories are the absolute epitome of craftsmanship.

hobbitbookchronicles2creaturesalrg4On the heels of one of the best art books for a film that I’ve had the chance to add to my personal collection Weta Workshop has announced a second book to their art book range for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The second art book for The Hobbit covers the many creatures and characters that help populate Sir Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the first of three movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Within the Chronicles: Creatures and Characters are  quotes from the actors who played the many roles on-screen and this book comes with a size chart, a great way to compare the various sizes of these characters in relation to each other. The book is on sale now for $39 and if you buy now from Weta, you can get a signed copy for your collection. This second book does not ship until April so in the mean time you can still buy the previous Chronicles: Art and Design book for the same $39.