A pair of original pilot seats from the Radiant VII Republic Cruiser, used in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999). These are the Captain’s and Co-Pilot’s seats, seen in the opening sequence of the film.
The Radiant VII is the Republic diplomatic cruiser which transports Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) to negotiate with the Trade Federation, led by Nute Gunray (Silas Carson) and Rune Haako (Jerome Blake). The ship is ultimately destroyed under orders from Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).
These seats were used during filming at Leavesden Studios, near London, where large-scale interior sets for the film were constructed between 1997 and 1998. The production of The Phantom Menace marked a major period of activity at Leavesden, which later became one of the UK’s most important film studio sites.
Originally, the seats were RAF aircraft seats, likely adapted from a Boeing 707 / KC-135 era crew or observer seat. They feature a heavy-duty aluminium frame, tubular boarding handles, integrated switches, a complex front-mounted foot restraint, and a quick-release locking mechanism.
For the film, they were transformed into futuristic cockpit props through the addition of pipes, tubing, engine components, fans, oil filters, gas cylinders and other industrial elements to the backs.
They are mounted on industrial castors to allow movement, and are notably very heavy in construction. A sticker attached to one of the castors reads:
“Contractor 25805054 Line 7 Star Wars Episode 1 The Phantom Menace”, further supporting their use in production.
Included with the lot is a signed photograph of the seats on set, autographed by Silas Carson, who portrayed both Nute Gunray and the co-pilot seated in these chairs during the destruction scene, and John Williams, the composer responsible for the iconic score of the Star Wars films. The photograph bears a PSA authentication reference (Sportizus PSA 13356).
  
About The Phantom Menace
(1999), written and directed by George Lucas, marked the long-awaited return of the Star Wars saga and the beginning of the prequel trilogy. The film explores the political and personal events that lead to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
It introduced a number of now iconic characters, including Darth Maul, Anakin Skywalker as a child, and Jar Jar Binks, alongside Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (his only appearance in the film series) and a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The film combined large-scale practical sets, model work, and pioneering digital effects, representing a major step forward in cinematic production at the time. It was a major commercial success and received multiple award nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects, further cementing its place within the Star Wars franchise.