The sale of a replica Iron Throne from Game of Thrones for $1.5 million confirmed the show’s attraction to collectors last week.
The throne, made to celebrate the HBO show in touring exhibitions, sparked a six-minute bidding war at the climax of a two-day, $21 million auction of 900 lots from the series.
The fictional throne, the ultimate prize in the dynastic wars modelled on Britain’s Wars of the Roses, is forged by a dragon. This example is made of plastic moulded from the on-screen version.
The $1.5 million sale price confirms the show has a huge fan base and some of them have money.
Jon Snow’s “Longclaw” sword sold for $400,000; a costume worn by Kit Harrington as Snow realised $337,500,000 (both after long bid battles); Jaime Lannister’s armour made $275,000.
Daenerys’ fur coat achieved $156,250. Image HBO/Heritage Auctions.
Heritage Auctions, who hosted the sale in Dallas after sending many of the lots on a global exhibition tour, say it was their second most successful ever entertainment sale.
Items were sold for $21.1 million in total with 4,500 bidders competing for the right to own costumes, weapons, props and sets.
Joe Maddalena, Heritage Executive Vice President, said in a statement: “These are extraordinary treasures made by Emmy-winning costume designers and prop makers, who worked tirelessly to adapt George R.R. Martin’s wonderful novels.
“People wanted a piece of that ‘Game of Thrones’ magic.”
Many items made over $100,000 more than their floor-price starting bids.
Iconic items from well-known scenes were at a premium. A dragon’s egg sold for $100,000. The “shame” bell for the same amount.
The sale was an exploration of the art of costume and prop design. For example, three versions of Jon Snow’s sword, “Longclaw” were listed for sale.
Two, made largely of rubber, sold for $75,000 and $106,000. The $400,000 blade was made of metal. Tommy Dunne was the weapons master for Game of Thrones. He told Heritage: “We always then make an aluminum version of the blade. We’ll make a bamboo version and we’ll make a rubber version. So we have all the components that will be safe.”
Fans of the show will hope that some of these items have been sold to public or museum collections. There is certainly an appetite to see them.
Game of Thrones becomes the first show of the streaming era to ascend into the top level of collectibles with this sale.
