Review of Mandalorian Skull Mini Sculpture
Star Wars Limited Edition Decor

Introduction

Lots of collectibles have made the transition from being merely something a hard core nerd wants to have, kept in its package in a closet but coveted by his other nerdy friends, to something the more general fandom would openly display in their homes. This is the evolution from collectible to 'nerd decor'.

There's a company out there doing some great work in this area - Regal Robot. They are developing a variety of decorations and furniture - bar tables, chairs, desks, coffee tables, wall art - that bring your favorite license to the style of your home.

They're focused on Star Wars right now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the licensing expand. They produce specific items for sale, as well as custom pieces. Check out their custom Emperor's Throne armchair - I want one!

I'm checking out one of their much smaller goodies tonight. The Mandalorian skull on the armor of Boba Fett has been the subject of a variety of collectibles, but this time it is being produced as an actual skull replica. They've created it in several sizes, from 4.5" to 11" to 17", and tonight I'm checking out the 4.5" version. This version also comes in two styles - a standard bone colored skull, and a limited edition solid pewter skull. I'm looking at the pewter rendition, which is limited to just 300.

You can pick up this limited version for $100 through Regal Robot, or you can get the bone colored standard version for $35.

Packaging - ***
The heavy skull comes in an attractive if basic box. Inside, it is cradled in very high quality dense foam, ensuring its safety. While the box and skull are not physically numbered, there is a simple Certificate of Authenticity that gives both the edition size and specific number.

Sculpting - ****
I think a little background on this particular item is warranted. This is not the skull of a Mandalorian. Rather, this skull design was seen painted on Boba Fett's armor in the original films, and some additional information was provided in the Expanded Universe books and other Star Wars novels.

The Mandalorians used this symbol, along with many others, as an icon. Some think it's the skull of a Bantha, though it doesn't look anything like a Bantha to me. Others believe it's the skull of a Mythosaurus, an ancient beast on the planet Mandalore. In any event, like the skull of the long horn steer in the American West, the symbol became part of their culture.

This is a fully fleshed out skull, not merely a symbolic design. It is textured like bone, with a weathered, aged appearance. This is not just a skull, but one that's been out in the elements a long time. The difference in texture between the skull itself and the horns that wrap around the mouth makes them distinct, even when the entire piece is cast in pewter, and creates an additional realism to the overall look.

And yes, this guy is solid pewter. The skull is about 4 1/2" long, but weighs just north of a pound. The heft is impressive, and provides a tactile feel of worth. There's also no mold lines, no edges, no signs of something that's been manufactured through a molding process.

The sculpt continues around to the back side, where they've even included a few molars. While you might rarely see the reverse side, it's this sort of attention to detail that makes a good collectible great.

Paint - ****
With the various sizes, you can go from something that looks and feels like a real skull (the 17" version), to something that looks like a space conscious version of a real skull (the 11" and 4.5" versions), to something that moves from real skull to clearly defined art.

The pewter takes it that last step. It's not the color of bone, and it's not trying to approximate it. It's the color of metal, but with a natural wash that gives depth and definition to the intricately sculpted surface.

Accessories - ***
You don't often expect any 'accessories' with something like this, but for an extra $14 you can have a very attractive acrylic display stand. You pull the paper off the acrylic pieces and assemble it. It's very sturdy, and the silver pewter skull looks great against the all black reflective surface. It's a dust magnet of course, and fourteen bucks isn't cheap, but considering the limited nature of the skull itself, I'm not surprised by the price.

Value - **
Regular readers know that a score of **1/2 in this category means you're getting an average value, not too much, not too little. It also means that the category won't have any direct effect either up or down on my overall.

I dinged them slightly here. At $100, plus an additional $14 for the stand, you're not getting off cheap by any means. Of course, two factors are driving this - the use of pewter, and the small edition size. Still, it's going to be the price point that affects whether or not most collectors take the plunge. If I were reviewing the non-limited standard edition, which sells for $35, I would have gone that extra half star in this category easily.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing. I would recommend removing the skull from the stand if you're picking it all up to move it to a new location, but that's because of the weight.

Overall - ****
While I dinged him (or her?) slightly on the price, it wasn't enough of a hit to pull down the strong scores in both the sculpt and the paint categories. I went with the full four stars overall, thanks to the excellent quality.

If you're looking for something more realistic, go with one of the bone colored versions. If you're looking for something more artistic, the pewter is the way to go. Either choice and you won't be disappointed in the quality or design.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ****
Accessories - ***
Value - **
Overall - ****

Where to Buy 
You can pick up this one (or the regular bone colored version) directly from Regal Robot at their online store. The limited edition pewter version is $100, while the regular bone colored version is $35. You can pick up the display stand for either for an additional $14.

Related Links -
I don't cover a lot of what you might call 'decor', but I do have another Mandalorian symbol on display in my bar. While the Sideshow Premium Format Boba Fett was replaced in my collection years ago by the Hot Toys quarter scale release, I still have the special Mandalorian 'effect' that came with it hanging on the wall!

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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