Category Archives: 023. 2000 Seven of Nine

023. Seven of Nine

No. 023
Released: July 15, 2000
Ornament: Seven of Nine
Series: Star Trek: Voyager
Product code: QX6844
Artist: Anita Marra Rogers
Original retail: $14.95
Dimensions: 5” H x 1.67” W x .8“ D
Branding: Keepsake
Material: Styrene
Packaging: Red front with gold trim
Magic: None
Power source: None
Front box text:
Hallmark
KEEPSAKE ORNAMENT
STAR TREK VOYAGER
Seven of Nine™
STAR TREK: Voyager
DÉCORATION DES FÊTES
Back box text:
SEVEN OF NINE™
Born: Annika Hansen. Human, daughter of noted scientists. Tendara Colony, 2348.
Assimilated: Became a Borg™ drone at the age of six.
Rank: Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One, assigned as Borg liaison to Starfleet Captain Kathryn Janeway in early 2374.
Currently: Crew member aboard the Federation Starship U.S.S. Voyager in Delta Quadrant.
Seven of Nine™ was the only surviving drone of the Borg Cube that attempted to assimilate the Federation Starship Voyager. With the help of the Voyager crew, Seven gradually regained a nearly human appearance and adopted more human values-even taking pride in her own individuality and becoming a member of the crew.
Sculpted by Anita Marra Rogers
For decorative use only. Not for young children.
Conçue à des fins décoratives seulement. Ne convient pas aux jeunes enfants.
Handcrafted – Stardated 2000
Bottom box text:
TM & © 2000 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
STAR TREK and related marks are trademarks of Paramount Pictures. Hallmark authorized user. http://www.startrek.com
Mfd. for Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kansas City, MO 64141 Made in Thailand
QX6844
Pros: An impressively detailed likeness, with excellent attention to her uniform and signature Borg implants. The sculpt does justice to the character’s unique design and presence, making it a standout in the Voyager line.
Cons: Seven of Nine was famously introduced to boost the show’s ratings, and that calculated appeal is very much present in this ornament’s presentation. While it’s a faithful representation, the emphasis on form over context may not resonate with every collector.

Jeri Ryan Wraps Up Christmas

Artist Inspirations: Seven of Nine (2000)

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This is the first in a new series where we will be looking at Hallmark Star Trek Keepsake ornaments and the images that likely inspired the artist’s sculpts, a topic that spawned from this recent Top 10 article.

2000’s Seven of Nine ornament was crafted by Anita Marra Rogers and depicts Seven donning a silver Borg Exoplating Emulation Suit (read: catsuit) with her left hand on her stomach and her right hand on her thigh. It is an iconic pose that was taken from Jeri Ryan’s publicity shoot which preceded her 1997 Voyager fourth-season debut.

In the first image (above left) we see the familiar blue bodysuit that also appears on the ornament (above middle). Rogers seems to have gotten her inspiration for the ornament from the pose in the silver bodysuit (above right). The feet, legs, arms and hands are all identical and only the head position and shoulder angle are not in alignment. Looking at a second image from the same photo shoot we find a perfect match. Comparing the ornament and the second publicity shot (below), everything seems to match up with the exception of her right pinky finger.

So, why did Rogers change Seven’s clothing from silver to blue? John Orquiola explains the production issues with the silver suit:

“Ryan wore the silver suit for a few episodes, but it was retired because of the many issues it caused for the actress. The catsuit, with its corset complete with molded breasts, was so restrictively tight that Ryan had trouble breathing. In fact, nurses with oxygen tanks were present on the set and Ryan passed out four times during production. In addition, not only did the corset prevent Ryan from bending but it took her 20 minutes to go to the bathroom, and production would need to be halted just so the actress could relieve herself.
”The silver catsuit with the high collar, of course, is what Ryan wore as Seven of Nine in publicity photos for Star Trek: Voyager, but the actress spoke up about her discomfort and her uniform was changed. Less restrictive (but no less form-fitting) alternate costumes were designed in various colors. A brown costume had no collar, which allowed Ryan to turn her neck, and throughout the four seasons she starred in, Seven rotated between cobalt blue, grey-blue, and plum-colored versions of her catsuit.”
ScreenRant

Jeri Ryan had not worn the silver bodysuit for over a year when Rogers would have likely begun the design process for the 2000 ornament. It stands to reason that the artist liked Seven’s pose from the publicity shoot but made the bodysuit color change to match what Ryan was wearing on screen…likely from the direction of CBS.