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Wallace’s reaction as the auction got into full swing might have been a trademark “good grief!” – and the enthusiasm of some of the bidding could have caused even the phlegmatic Gromit to show surprise.
Fans of Wallace and Gromit and other beloved creations of the Aardman studio seized the chance to grab souvenirs when more than 200 pieces – including Wallace, Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run puppets that starred in Aardman productions – went under the hammer on Thursday.
Sought-after items included Wallace and Gromit stop-motion models from the studio’s hugely popular 2024 film Vengeance Most Fowl.
Lot 216, for example, was Wallace in his traditional outfit of a knitted green tank top, red tie and brown trousers. The catalogue said he was in “smashing condition”, and gave details of his construction: “Wallace’s head is moulded from clay; while his body is made of silicone to facilitate smooth repositioning by the animators.
“He has a skeleton, just like every salt-of-the-earth lad, it’s just that his happens to be made of metal. His teeth, shirt collar, tie, pen, and pencil are fast-cast resin and his eyes are plastic.”
A puppet of Gromit on all fours from the same film – lot 219 – was “crafted over a fully jointed internal metal armature, allowing him to be held in his most natural pose”.
The catalogue made it clear these were not toys but pieces of art needing special packaging, shipping and careful handling. “Please also be aware that exposure to extreme temperatures may cause damage,” it said.
Another eye-catching lot was number 219 – Wallace and Gromit’s nemesis, Feathers McGraw, disguised as a nun. The catalogue reminded bidders of one of the best Wallace and Gromit lines: “Feathers McGraw? Don’t be ridiculous. That’s just an innocent nun, out for a pleasure cruise.”
It was not only Wallace, Gromit and Feathers that proved popular. Aardman aficionados snapped up pieces related to the studio’s early days including clay puppets of Morph and his pal Chas.
Every lot started at £100 but as bidding got under way at tea time in London, it was clear they were not going to stay low for long.
The Morph and Chas puppets, made from Plasticine by Aardman co-founder Peter Lord and accompanied by handwritten care instructions, one of the first pieces to be auctioned, sold for £3,780 including buyer’s premium.
Mischievous Morph first appeared in 1977 as part of Take Hart, before starring in his own series of adventures. Another lot – lunch for six with Lord in Bristol – was bought by someone for more than £11,000.
Storyboards from Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers signed by another Aardman grandee, Nick Park, went for almost £4,000. A 9cm-tall clay rabbit that appeared in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit cost almost £10,000.
Bidders whose budget could not stretch to a Wallace or Gromit puppet could buy more modest souvenirs such as lot 89 – dry stone walls and gate from the Shaun the Sheep television series. That came with “adhesive remnants from where the pieces were secured to the set”.
The sale, run by the memorabilia auction house Propstore, marked the 50th anniversary of the Bristol-based studio, with the profits to be used to train new generations of animators.
Ngaio Harding-Hill, the director of attractions and live experiences and archive at Aardman, described it as an “unprecedented opportunity” to own a part of the studio’s 50-year history.
Harding-Hill said the collection had been carefully curated by the Aardman team to make sure the studio’s five decades were reflected in the auction.
She said: “Proceeds from the auction will be invested in talent development initiatives across Aardman, including bursaries at our world-class training facility, the Aardman Academy, meaning every sale is contributing to nurturing the next generation of animation talent.”
