A C-3PO head from the private collection of Star Wars actor Anthony Daniels has sold at auction for $US843,750 ($1.28 million).

The light-up prop from 1983’s Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi, was sold as part of the Anthony Daniels Collection in Los Angeles.

Daniels, who played the droid in the Star Wars franchise, previously said he hoped the memorabilia would “find new homes where they will be displayed, respected and enjoyed by fans”.

Auction house Propstore said the head featured in “several scenes” in the film, directed by Richard Marquand and written by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas.

The head was said to have been made of “very thin fibreglass”, composed of three separate parts that interlock and the eyes illuminate “when an internal switch is activated”, the auction house said.

The C-3PO head, which had an original price estimate of between $US500,000 to $US1 million, had eight bids but it was unknown who placed the winning bid.

The auction house previously said the Star Wars droid “stands as one of the most recognisable cinema designs of all time”, describing it as “one of the most significant artefacts from the original Star Wars film to come to market”.

The head was featured in multiple scenes in Return Of The Jedi during the battle in Endor, “including when Luke reunites with the group after the speeder bike chase and as the Rebels scout out and approach the shield reactor”.

-PA