Gabrielle's chinese costume

Here a special entry about my last discovery. Gabrielle’s Chinese costume worn by Gabrielle played by Reneé O’Connor in the episodes “Purity” and “Back in the bottle” from season 5.

The costume includes a traditional Qipao dress tunic, wide leg pants and a pair of wrist gauntlets. The costume is very detailed and it is in same condition that left the set. The green fabric has a beautiful intricate lush brocade with floral motifs and black fabric brocade combines the floral theme with dragons and birds, it has a red braid trim all around. The wrist gauntlets were made with the same black fabric.

This costume was auctioned after the series ended in the “It’s a Wrap” auction in 2001. I found the original photograph of this specific wardrobe from the auction.

 

 The costume includes the original label of the costume elements and the It’s a Wrap! COA.

It's a Wrap! auction original photo published. I was able to screen match this costume with the one shown in the photo and I can confirm that is the same costume. 

Photos for reference:

Athena's sword

My recent acquisition is Athena’s stunt sword prop, used by Athena played by Paris Jefferson and her stunt doubles. Mostly all the swords seen on the series were made of hard resin or foam, only a few exceptions were metal for close-ups. 

 

The foam blades were the safest options in physical contact scenes for the actors and stunts. Athena’s character appeared during three episodes on season 5: “Amphipolis under siege”, “Looking death in the eye” and “Motherhood”. However, the character was very loved by fans but sadly she never appeared again on the series.

The handle is made of hard resin and the blade is soft foam, all cast over a metal rod armature for support and prevent bending. Athena’s sword has 7 blue acrylic gems inlayed, still in mint condition. 

I believe that the prop department had choosen different gem colours for each different god: Ares had in his wardrobe and sword red jewels and Athena blue ones in her sword and costume. The sword is in good condition, although in some parts has chipped paint and sings of being used in fight scenes.

Photos for reference:

 

Gabrielle's staff fabric

“Uh. How much for this piece of scrap?”. 

“That finely-woven Egyptian prayer scarf is five dinars…”. - Gabrielle (Blind Faith, season 2).

Today’s arrival is this woven fabric used for Gabrielle’s staff middle section intertwined with rope. Gabrielle’s first weapon was a battle staff after meeting the amazons that she carried during the Xena’s golden years, circa seasons 2-4.

This piece of fabric is very recognizable, it appeared on the episode “Blind Faith” from season 2 at the beginning on the market sequence and it was also seen on Gabrielle’s battle staff. It is woven, not like the Creation Entertainment staff replica that have a crude printed paper replica glued on. 

I decided to replace the printed fabric piece of my Creation staff for a piece of the woven fabric I adquired recently. I didn't want to alter the staff but obviously that fabric must be there.

Gabrielle´s staff replica distributed by Creation Entertainment with the woven fabric.

Xena & Gabrielle display

Last weekend I took a few photos of my favorite costumes of my collection. 

In the right side is Xena's costume: the armour is set used stunt double piece, made of moduled fiber glass and leather, except of the copper shoulderguards pieces replicas that are screen accurate and were forged by @xenawarriorreplicas. Xena's leathers are a screen accurate replica with a copper medallion forged by the New Zealand blacksmiths from the series and a set used chakram hook. The gauntlets and armbands are made of copper and are Creation Entertainment replicas. Kneeguards are set used and the pair of boots are my lastest acquisition used in the series too.

In the middle, Gabrielle's  Amazon Queen costume worn by Renée O'Connor in season 5 and 6. The costume includes an Amazon Queen necklace too, iconic! It includes the leather bra, skirt, undershorts, belt, necklace, a pair of leather gauntlets, a pair of armbands and the shoulder piece.

In the left side, Gabrielle's hero signature costume from season 6 worn by Renée O'Connor. The costume includes the velvet bra, skirt, undershorts, boots, sai straps and the leaf pedant necklace. The silver cuffs were bought from the same company that provided them to the series.

Behind the costumes are three shadow boxes with: Xena's original chakram, yin yang chakram and a Gabrielle's sais from Creation Entertainment.

Tira's set used headpiece

A few weeks ago I received the Tira's headpiece that completes the Tira's costume I have purchased a few months ago. Tira was the Artemis Priesstess seen in the episode "Eternal Bonds" from season 5, played by Natalie Duggan.

This awesome headpiece is made of dark brown leather, copper pieces and rivets. Probably, it was attached to the actress's hair braids with hairpins, because it does not have any type of support inside.

 

I feel satisfaction after having the possibility of putting together two pieces that were separated after the series ended. In this case, the main costume pieces were acquired by a costume rental store in New Zealand and after I purchased it.

The headpiece was auctioned separately in the Turners Auction in 2001 after the show ended, and the owner sold it a few years ago in eBay to another collector, and ended in my hands a few weeks ago. 

As a curiosity, the Tira's hero copper bra was acquired by the company Shed 11 Costume House and sold in eBay about 10 years ago. Nowadays, I don't know where it is.

The headpiece has a metal charm attached  in the front of the headpiece.