I love auctions, especially the ones that include movie and TV memorabilia. I could never afford to bid on any of the pieces, but I never tire of hearing what others are willing to shell out for a piece of Hollywood history.
Recently, the company, Angels The Costumiers, hosted an auction in an effort to cut insurance costs. It put more than 400 movie, TV and theater costumes from its 1.5 million-piece collection on the block and opened the bidding. To say that the auction was a success would be an understatement.
According to the company’s president, there was no way one could have imagined that the brown hooded cloak worn by Obi-Wan Kenobi in the “Star Wars” films–then stashed in a warehouse–would bring in $104,000 from an anonymous telephone bidder. But, that’s not all; a Bond girl’s cat suit and Anthony Hopkins’ army uniform also drew five digit bids.
In addition, one man paid $5,200 to add a fur-lined dressing gown from Madonna’s 1996 movie “Evita” to his movie memorabilia collection, which already included a bra worn by the Material Girl.
Other items that drew in big bucks included Mel Gibson’s kilt from “Braveheart” and the James Bond dinner jacket from “Thunderball.” (The jacket sold for $64,700.)
A company spokesperson for Angels The Costumiers told reporters that most of the bidders were dealers or collectors, but a few were simply die-hard fans looking to pick up a lasting memory of their favorite star or movie. For example, a Texas resident and fan of Michael Caine bid $4,800 for a suit worn by the actor in the movie “Get Carter.”
Bidders also got a chance to take home the beaten metal helmet worn by Terry Jones in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” Apparently, the item was “something someone just had to have.” According to news reports, the bidder paid $19,300 for the metal bucket; 20 times more than its pre-sale estimate.
Nineteen thousand dollars for a metal bucket—that’s incredible!
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