Downton Abbey sale at Bonhams
Fans of Downton Abbey will have the opportunity to own a piece of the globally-successful, landmark series in an upcoming sale of props, costumes and set pieces coming up at Bonhams in late summer.
It’s been 15 years since TV audiences first met the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic staff in the hit series that ran across six seasons from 2010 to 2015. Now, while the show is set to bow out with a third and final motion picture about to hit cinema screens this September, Downton devotees will be able to snap up keepsakes from it.
The sale will run online on bonhams.com from August 18 to September 16, alongside a special exhibition taking place at Bonhams New Bond Street, London, which will be free and open to the public. The producers of the show, Carnival Films, will contribute their proceeds from items they have donated to Together for Short Lives, the UK’s leading charity for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Some highlights of the sale comprise iconic outfits worn by the cast, including :
- Michelle Dockery (as Lady Mary): Wedding 1 Prop Costume, and wedding bouquet Season 3, Episode 1. Estimate: £3,000 – 5,000
- Jessica Brown Findlay (as Lady Sybil): Harem Pant Prop Costume Season 1, Episode 4. Estimate: £3,000 – 5,000
- Lily James (As Lady Rose): ‘Coming Out’ Ball. Series 4, Episode 9 and 10. Estimate: £800 – 1,200
- Dame Maggie Smith (as Violet Crawley): Light Pink Day Dress and Dark Grey Day Dress Season 6, Episode 1, Episode 9. Estimate: £1,500 – 2,000.
- Laura Carmichael (as Lady Edith): Peach Halterneck Dress Prop Costume. Season 4, Episode 2. Estimate: £800 – 1,200.
- Michelle Dockery (as Lady Mary): A Silver Sequin Drop-Waist Evening Dress Season 6, Episode 4. Estimate: £1,000 – 1,500.
Elsewhere, other sought-after items will include a clapper board used in the production of the film Downton Abbey: A New Era, estimated at £1,000 – 1,500. Various Cook Costumes and Pinafores for Mrs Patmore, played by Lesley Nicol, carry an estimate of £600 – 800. An autographed script of Downton Abbey Season One, Episode One, Carnival Film & Television Ltd, 2010 has an estimate of £600 – 800. A pair of Thomas Barrow’s (played by the actor Rob James-Collier) white leather gloves has hopes of achieving £100-150, while the iconic Downton Abbey Bell Wall could ring up a top estimate of £7,000.
Charlie Thomas, Bonhams UK Group Director for House Sales and Private & Iconic Collections, commented: “Downton Abbey is an example of the very best of British television and filmmaking, and we are delighted to be offering the props and costumes from this landmark series. Downton Abbeyis an exceptionally well-researched piece of storytelling on aristocratic society in the early 20th Century, and the costumes and props show the impressive attention to detail that brought the world to life on screen and making it so beloved by millions across the globe.”
Gareth Neame, Executive Producer & CEO of Carnival Films commented:”The world of Downton Abbey is beloved around the globe for its rich, timeless storytelling. These iconic set items hold a special place in that history, and we are proud to see them help support the vital work of Together for Short Lives.”