skekGra the Heretic - Circle of the Suns Skeksis Chair - Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary Auction on Julien's Auctions, sold for $2,560 - Lot 100
I almost missed one of my favorite props, since I forgot to bookmark it! But fret not, here it is, very late, Lot 100!
"A Skeksis chair from the Circle of Suns where cast-out Skeksis, skekGra the Heretic (performed by Damian Farrell and voiced by Andy Samberg), resided in the prequel series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix, 2019).
The chair is comprised of carved rigid foam with a cast resin outer coating that features hand-painted detailing. It is designed in the instantly recognizable Skeksis style known as "Garthic," which was created by skekEkt the Ornamentalist and features characteristics such as "emerging skeleton imagery" that make it so distinguishable.
It contains ornate detailing throughout including carved patterns on the base and hand/claw-shaped arms, winged blade protrusions as a headboard, leather strips wrapped around multiple components of the chair including some containing faux-bones tied to them, and multiple pieces of multi-fabric throw blanket decorations. The chair does not contain a full seat.
The chair features wear throughout consistent with heavy production usage. This wear includes, but is not limited to, scuffing and scratch marks, chipping, and outer coating peeling. Other specific wear includes both of the arms being loose from the lower half of the chair, a section of one of the back protrusions not being present which allows the foam to be seen, and both of the faux-bones have become separated from their other halves tied to the leather straps.
This chair can be seen when the Gelfling heroes of the series visit the Circle of the Suns where they encounter skekGra and urGoh the Wanderer (performed by Olly Taylor and voiced by Bill Hader).
Dimensions: 72 x 53 x 34.5 inches"
I have seen people theorize about this chair and its implications regarding the lore, and I would like to add to the conversation. I do personally enjoy the idea of SkekGra leaving the castle with his chair, quite possibly using it as a weapon to fend off other skeksis? But we will not know for a little while. Regardless, this chair almost certainly came from the castle, but it isn't the same as every other castle chair, is it?
For starters, it has claws! These claws are absent on the modern chairs, but would make sense for a much older garthic style! The halo on the headrest also features interesting interlocking patterns, which we can see carven into the walls in the castle in some areas. The base of the chair has a very flowing and curly look to it, resembling something of an art nouveau style, which we also see hints of throughout the castle in permanent features, such as around doorframes and on chandeliers. I suggest that the garthic style has evolved greatly, even in the last few hundred years while SkekGra has been exiled, and that all of the chairs had resembled this, but have since been replaced.
SkekGra and UrGoh clearly has also altered the chair, adding fabrics for cushioning, and interesting hanging charms and bells. I find it very interesting and almost symbolic, seeing how SkekGra not only took a piece of home with him, but made it his own-- but even still, his 'home' has changed so much since he left, that it hardly even resembles home at all.
