From the moment I stepped out of the London heat and into the calm leaf-lined corridor of 101 New Bond Street on August 5th I was transported into the captivating world of Outlander. Delighted to be attending the auction to bid on behalf of a Scottish client I’d been counting the days.
As soon as Outlander hit our screens here in the U.K in 2015, it was obvious that this historic/time travel series was going to be a hit. The name Outlander has become synonymous with Scottish history and romanticism and the show catapulted many of its stars to new heights of fame, creating an enormous international following. This had a remarkable impact on visitor numbers to Scotland in a largely positive way. However, the need for repairs to historic sites due to visitor numbers soon became evident. Growing up near Culloden Battlefield I took many Sunday walks on the moor, so as the seasons progressed it was distressing to witness first-hand the pressure that had been put on the area surrounding the Clan Fraser grave in particular, resulting in the need for cordons, replanting etc. Fortunately, the National Trust For Scotland handled this sensitively and on my last visit it had recovered well.
Following the conclusion of the final season of Outlander, plans were made to offer for sale many of the costumes and props from the various eight seasons. This decision was met with a mix of positive and negative opinions – some people wishing a museum could be opened to keep collection together. Sony have kept many originals for their archive, but overall, the numbers of props and costumes are vast, more than 10,000 garments were made for Season 2 alone.
Fans of the series were delighted to learn that Bonhams Auctioneers were to hold the auction of this iconic collection, following their huge successes with The Crown and Downton Abbey auctions. With an online only auction from June 18th till August 6th and a separate live auction in Bonhams flagship saleroom on August 5th there was something for everyone.
The craftsmanship and attention to detail in the costumes was evident when viewed up close, many were modern silks, hand embroidered in the 18th century manner. Some of the more elaborate outfits took months to make, with blowtorches and cheese graters used to simulate age and daily wear! The dressing rooms on set had to be altered, some of the dresses with cages would not fit through regular doors.
Following the costumes and props being on display to the public, the room was transformed for the day of the auction. After an Outlander trailer on the big screen behind the rostrum, we had a warm introduction by one of our auctioneers for the day, Charlie Thomas, (Head of House Sales and Private & Iconic Collections).
Bidding soon got underway with a real sense of anticipation amongst the room bidders and staff poised for telephone bids.
Lasting five hours, with each auctioneer taking an hour at a time, the pace was steady but exciting.
Auction highlights included;
Lots 2 a blue and white vase, and 4, a painted sign, brought £2,816 and £4,096 respectively. Both appear in the opening sequence of Series 1, Episode 1.
Lot 9: Claire’s white dress, which sets the story of her travelling back in time through the standing stones, realised an impressive £7,040 against a £1,500-2,000 estimate.
Lot 20: Claire’s rings. The tension was palpable in the room during this lot, with 2 online bidders battling it out, this group of three rings finally sold for £28,160, against a pre-auction estimate of £3,000-5,000.
Lot 38: Claire’s stunning red dress, the hammer came down at £12,160, against a £3,000-5,000 estimate, selling to an online bidder.
Lot 56: Jamie’s Culloden outfit, estimate £1,500-2,000, has a deep historical and emotional connection for many, the lot finally achieving £8,960. Rumour has it that it was purchased by an institution so hopefully it will be on display for years to come.
Lot 43: Sawny, the hand carved wooden snake took £4,000 to an absentee bidder, memorable as a poignant moment between Jamie and brother.
Lot 69: Claire’s Bat Suit was happily reunited with Terry Dresbach, (Costume Designer Seasons 1-4,) who secured it for £4,480.
For me lot 12, was a real bargain on the day. Fifteen large, hand-painted panels from Geillis’s attic room sold for just £2,816. Inspired by a painted ceiling at Culross Palace in Fife, and tarot cards magnified, these needed a fair amount of wall space!
Next came a surprise, as special guest Graham McTavish came out to auction lot 14. He brought his charm and charisma to the rostrum and really seemed to enjoy offering this lot. Stopping briefly to replace his white jacket with that of his character Dougal, (this was subsequently offered the following day at the online auction realising £1,664). This was a fabulous and unexpected moment to remember for those in the room and following online.
The costumes and props of Outlander Seasons 1-8 represent much more than their monetary value, they’re part of the show’s history and cultural legacy. Their function has changed forever, and will continue to be enjoyed in private collections, museums, institutions, and homes around the world for years to come.
With a 100% sell rate the auctioneer was presented with the customary white glove which was a fitting end to a wonderful day.
All realised prices include buyer’s premium. Please see www.bonhams.com
