‘The Crown’ Auction 100% Sold At Bonhams

More than 450 costumes, sets, and props from the award-winning series The Crown, one of Netflix’s most prestigious and acclaimed shows, was 100% sold at Bonhams, London today (Thursday 8 February).  

• The 473-lot sale achieved more than £1,674,000 million against its pre-sale estimate of £525,000 which included a live sale at Bonhams New Bond Street on 7 February and an online sale which ran from 11 January-8 February.

Charlie Thomas, Bonhams UK Group Director for Private & Iconic Collections commented, “It has been an immense privilege to work with Left Bank Pictures on this incredible sale. The Crown Auction offered a unique opportunity to own pieces from the landmark show, the closest most of us will get to the real thing. We are delighted with the result – a white glove sale in which everything was 100% sold. It is without doubt testimony to the success of the series and the incredible talent that worked on The Crown.”

TOP LOTS

• The top lot was a 1987 Jaguar XJ-SC 3.6 Litre Cabriolet used to portray Princess Diana’s personal Jaguar which sold for £70,250, more than four times its estimate of £15,000-20,000.  
• The world’s only reproduction of the Gold State Coach achieved £56,280 almost twice its estimate (pre-sale estimate £30,000-50,000).
• Imelda Staunton (the Queen) funeral procession model as seen in the last episode of The Crown, (Season 6, Episode 10) sold for £53,740, six times the estimate (pre-sale estimate of £8,000-12,000).
• Claire Foy, Olivia Colman & Imelda Staunton, (the Queen) parquetry and gilt metal mounted cylinder bureau in the Louis XVI style, first seen in Season 2 in the Audience Room sold for £46,080 (pre-sale estimate £2,000-3,000).
• A reproduction of the Coronation Chair (Saint Edward’s Chair) sold for £25,600 (pre-sale estimate £10,000-20,000).
• The replica of the famous wrought iron gates of Buckingham Palace achieved £12,800 (pre-sale estimate £6,000-8,000) and the replica of Number 10 Downing Street façade sold for £10,880.

MEMORABLE COSTUMES

Many of the magnificent and memorable costumes from The Crown alsodelivered strong results:

• Claire Foy (as the Queen). A replica of the Coronation Ceremonial Garments including the Imperial Mantle and Stole, Supertunica, Anointing Gown and Robe of State sold for £19,200.
• Elizabeth Debicki (as Princess Diana): The dress inspired by Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge dress’ achieved £12,800 (pre-sale estimate of £8,000-12,000).

• Emma Corrin (as Lady Diana): A reproduction of Diana’s Engagement ring sold for £7,680 (pre-sale estimate:£2,000-3,000).
• Emma Corrin (as Lady Diana): An Engagement announcement ensemble, a royal blue crepe skirt suit with pussybow blouse, sold for £3,840 (pre-sale estimate: £1,500-2,000).
• Elizabeth Debicki (as Princess Diana): A ‘Harvard’ sweatshirt ensemble sold for £5,760 (pre-sale estimate: £500-700).

QUIRKY CHARACTER PROPS

Quirkier character props and smaller lots from the series also achieved high prices:

• The smallest lot in the sale, a Swizzle stick, to stir drinks, used for the role of the Queen Mother in The Crown achieved a remarkable £1,664 more than 20 times its pre-sale estimate of £60-80. The lot also included a selection of character bar props compiled by The Crown’s prop department.
• Olivia Colman (as the Queen): The Audience Room bell first seen in Season 2, sold for £6,912 over 25 times its pre-sale estimate of £200-300.
• Two Beswick porcelain models of corgis together with a silver mounted photograph frame, enclosing a black and white photograph of a corgi. Sold for £3,328 (pre-sale estimate: £200-300).

The full list of The Crown Auction live sale results is available here and the online results here.

PROCEEDS TO CHARITY

Proceeds from the live auction to fund scholarships at the National Film and Television School (NFTS)

• Proceeds from the live auction are dedicated to creating a pioneering new stream of funding for the National Film and Television School (NFTS), paving the way for the establishment of the Left Bank Pictures – The Crown Scholarship programme. 

• The Scholarship programme will support at least 50 students to train at the NFTS over the next 20 years on fully-funded scholarships with additional living expenses, providing the specialised training for which the school is globally renowned.
• Further information can be found here: nfts.co.uk/left-bank-pictures-crown-scholarship-programme

STAR GUEST APPEARANCE

Alex Jennings raising the gavel as he auctions off a corduroy blazer he wore whilst playing the Duke of Windsor in The Crown.

The live sale featured a guest appearance by actor Alex Jennings, who played the Duke of Windsor in The Crown, auctioning a corduroy blazer and trousers from Season 5, Episode 3, which sold for £1,088 (pre-estimate: £800-1,200)

RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE AT EXHIBITION

The auction followed an exclusive 3-week exhibition at Bonhams New Bond Street of the auction props and costumes. A staggering 30,000 visitors came through the doors to see at first hand the exceptional craftmanship and creativity of the series, the highest ever attended exhibition at Bonhams.

REACTION TO AUCTION RESULTS

Andy Harries, Chief Executive of Left Bank Pictures and Executive Producer of The Crown, added: “It is a fantastically fitting end to The Crown to see the props and costumes raise such phenomenal amounts of money for the NFTS Left Bank Pictures scholarship at Bonhams this week.  It was even more satisfying to see the model of the Funeral Procession go for such a high figure.  Crafted by students from the NFTS for season 6 of The Crown it perfectly captures the ethos of The Crown Auction – to give back to the industry which made the series possible. Huge thanks to Bonhams for delivering this spectacular auction.”

Jon Wardle, Director of the National Film and Television School, said:

“We are thrilled with the result and enormously grateful to Left Bank Pictures. The proceeds from the auction will play a crucial role in supporting life-changing scholarships at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) ensuring the next generation of film and television makers are given the opportunity to benefit from our world-renowned training, paying forward The Crown’s legacy for many years to come.”

Two Beswick porcelain models of corgis together with a silver mounted photograph frame, enclosing a black and white photograph of a corgi. Sold for £3,328 (pre-sale estimate: £200-300).

The Crown took its final bow when the last six episodes were released on Netflix in December 2023, marking the end of the ground-breaking series.