Artist proof?

[Stans63]

Hi all, this is my first post!..I'm thinking of buying a Sideshow/Weta Morgul Lord statue that is in great condition but doesn't have a number next to the edition size..the statue appears to have the standard box. It it an artists proof or just one that somehow avoided being numbered?
Thanks Stan

[MiddleEarthFanPA]

Hello, so I can not speak to the origin of all AP pieces, but I do own a few myself. The most recent piece is an AP Escape of The Road. From what I understand (and another member can correct me if I am wrong) I believe AP's are created by the manufacturer in addition to the edition size to fulfill orders that have been damaged in someway during transit. In my case my MC EOTR arrived damaged and I was presented with an AP version to replace it. I do not think there is any substantial difference between the AP and other pieces except the marking on the base.

[bishop]

I know that the AP edition is the perfect one.
No paint problems, no fit problems. And I don't think they do it in China. But I might be wrong.

[Clintwood]

AP´s where would sent to customers are the same copys like the regular edition, same factory, same forms, same painters ... the only difference is the number on the Base.

[Stans63]

Hi, thanks for the replies, its much appreciated! I think I did read on the forum here that Artists Proofs were named as such on the base instead of any numbers so I'm curious if there were exceptions to that rule..the seller of the unnumbered statue says Weta confirmed that not having any number next to the edition size makes it an artists proof.
Stan

[Idril]

Hi all, this is my first post!..I'm thinking of buying a Sideshow/Weta Morgul Lord statue that is in great condition but doesn't have a number next to the edition size..the statue appears to have the standard box. It it an artists proof or just one that somehow avoided being numbered?
Thanks Stan

Welcome to the forum. I’m a 20+year statue collector. I can tell you that an AP from the SSW days and todays Weta APs are entirely different.

Today, Weta’s AP are replacements for statues that were imperfect and especially for those not returned to Weta but destroyed by the owner as requested by Weta. They are usually cast and painted after the main edition run when they need more replacements then anticipated. They cannot be numbered as the ES is already set and sold with a few destroyed. Those destroyed numbers are not reused. The answer was to mark the new run as APs. They would be painted the same way as the numbered statues.

The APs of the SSW era usually number between 10-16 or so. The were made first in an entirely separate run from the main edition. They were usually painted by more than one master painter and each one is usually slightly different from the other. At this stage they had no paint plan for the statue or at the most a basic instruction. They were therefore slightly different in the paint application. They were then inspected all together by SSW representatives to decide on which paint design to go with for the main ES. I also believe they were used to gain approval of the licencors. Often afterwards given away to VIPs and occasionally used as replacements. They also usually have Artist Proof in a small rectangular box where the edition number is usually placed on the underneath side of the base.

I have an AP SSW original Balrog and a numbered one as well. The tongue is painted a different colour on my AP to the numbered one. The flames have a different main colour - one is more red than the other. I can’t remember much else that was different. You will usually find the SSWs AP paint job superior to the numbered edition pieces because they are thoughtfully hand painted individually and not mass painted. So, all but the AP paint job they choose to use for the edition, these APs will be slightly differently painted to the edition.

Todays ‘Paint Masters’ are the equivalent of SSW’s APs. They usually only number 3-5 pieces and rarely leave the Weta Workshop. All paint masters are painted by Jules at the Weta workshop and are usually identical.

edit: need to add a comment on the packaging for the SSW’s APs. My AP Balrog only has a black box from memory. The thing to look for is that the foam inserts are well formed and smooth by what looks to be a machine. If in any way the foam is ‘hand carved’ - it could well be a fake. Sometimes recasts from China put ‘AP’ on their fakes. As to yours, you could ask for pics of the underside of the base as well, taking particular notice of the rubber stoppers and comparing them to originals from know numbered editions.

[bishop]

I also thank you for this detailed report, Jan!
It was very helpful!

[Stans63]

I also thank you for this detailed report, Jan!
It was very helpful!

Yes, that was a great help,Thank You!