I am a 'found object' scuptor. I collect junk that I feel has artistic possibility and combine it with other junk to create and recontextualize these objects into a sculpture. This is why I have become a dumpster diver. Ultimately, finding the junk is as much a part of my creative process as combining the junk to create art.
In my quest to find aesthetically pleasing junk, I have come across many cool things that don't fit the art part, but are collectible or worth picking out of the coffee grounds and fruit rinds...
Unfortunately, I have not found anything that relates to Star Wars. But I have found full toy chests with all sorts of goodies in them. My best find toy-wise, was a dumpster with at least 4 chess boards and pieces (complete chess sets), one of which was 3ft x 3ft and the pieces were huge. There was also one made of marble and another with mother of pearl inlays. Also in this treasure dumpster: collectible card sleeves, 6 J. R. R. Tolkien books without damage (the LOTR set included) and some nice TSR D&D books. I assume either a mother with no clue or a new girlfriend/wife dumped the stuff without the owners consent.
I will say this about dumpster diving...
If you think for a moment about all the mothers that threw away all those 1950's sports card and comic book collections that we all hear so much about, there is always the possibility that this can happen again and if you look the odds are better that you may stumble onto something like this.
I have a few dumpster diving tips (for the serious diver):
1. Get some good work gloves, a nice stick or something to move trash with, tools (you never know when you may have to do a little work to get what you want and some rags to wipe off anything if necessary.
2. Spring is prime time, especially around college campuses. The things that rich, out-of-state students will toss is ridiculous.
3. If you are busted tresspassing or looking through someones trash, tell them you are an artist looking for materials to use in your art and they will help you find stuff or just blow you off.