Wallace and Gromit puppets among iconic Aardman collection being auctioned by Hertfordshire company
A Hertfordshire-based auction firm is putting several items from world-famous filmmaker company, Aardman up for auction.
Puppets from the team behind the Wallace and Gromit films are being auctioned by Propstore.
On September 24, Propstore is auctioning original Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Feathers McGraw puppets, amongst other Aardman items in a wide-ranging collection.
Propstore revealed it has items from almost every production the live-motion team has created in its near 50-year history. It is being called a first of its kind auction and the company has revealed every lot will begin at a £100 starting price.
Bidding starts today with items remaining up for grabs for nearly three weeks. Beyond Wallace and Gromit, Aardman is also known for the Chicken Run films, plus creating Morph and Shaun the Sheep.
A screen-matched Wallace stop-motion puppet, a Gromit puppet and a Feathers McGraw puppet, are all included. They have been taken from the most recent Aardman feature length film: Vengeance Most Fowl.
Propstore also revealed that the auction includes a Shaun the Sheep stop-motion puppet from directors Matthew Walker and Steve Cox’s upcoming film, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom due for release this year.
Shaun is one of the company’s most popular characters and since his first appearance in Nick Park’s Academy Award-winning Wallace and Gromit short A Close Shave, has gone on to star in two of his own movies.
Completing the announced highlights are original clay Morph and Chas stop-motion puppets made by Aardman co-founder Peter Lord, Propstore adds.
Information on how bids can be lodged globally is available online here. Propstore has also announced that proceeds from the auction will be invested in talent development initiatives across Aardman.
This includes bursaries at its training facility named the Aardman Academy, skills development programmes, and opportunities for emerging filmmakers.
Propstore revealed that those who enter the auction will be automatically qualified into a competition to win an Aardman item.
Stephen Lane, Propstore CEO, said: “Propstore is delighted to partner with Aardman on this landmark auction celebrating the studio’s 50th anniversary. The collection traces Aardman’s remarkable creative history, from original Morph and Chas models made by Peter Lord to instantly recognisable characters including Wallace, Gromit, Shaun the Sheep and Feathers McGraw.”