Original Wallace, Gromit and Feathers McGraw Puppets Anchor Aardman's 50th Anniversary Auction

Summary

Aardman is auctioning original stop-motion puppets spanning nearly every production in its five-decade historyScreen-used Wallace, Gromit and Feathers McGraw figures from Vengeance Most Fowl anchor the collection alongside the clay Morph and Chas models that started it allThe sale doubles as a fundraiser, with money flowing into bursaries and skills programs at the studio's own academy

Aardman is marking its 50th anniversary by opening the archive, partnering with memorabilia specialist Propstore on a live auction of more than 220 original puppets and props drawn from across the studio's history. It is the first sale of its kind for the Bristol animation house, and it reaches from the characters that defined its modern era back to the clay figures that launched it in the 1970s.

The marquee lots come from the most recent chapter of the Wallace & Gromit saga, Vengeance Most Fowl (2024). Three screen-matched stop-motion puppets are up: Wallace, Gromit, and the studio's silent criminal mastermind Feathers McGraw, the latter presented complete with the red-glove disguise that has become his calling card. These are not replicas but production-used figures, the physical objects that passed through animators' hands frame by painstaking frame.

The collection then reaches backward into the lore that gives Aardman its foundation. Original clay Morph and Chas puppets, hand-built by co-founder Sir Peter Lord, represent the character who effectively began the studio's on-screen story when Morph first appeared in 1977, and who remains bound to the Aardman identity nearly half a century later. A Shaun the Sheep puppet from the forthcoming Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (2026) bridges the two eras, a nod to a character who debuted in the Academy Award-winning short A Close Shave (1995) before graduating to his own series and features.

What makes the sale unusual is its accessibility. Rather than gating these pieces behind estimates that only institutions could meet, every single lot opens at just £100 GBP (approx. $135 USD), with global online, absentee and telephone bidding putting the entire catalog within reach of collectors worldwide. "These puppets hold a special place in the hearts of generations of fans, and with every lot starting at £100, we're excited to offer collectors around the world the chance to own a piece of Aardman history," said Stephen Lane, Propstore CEO, in a statement.

Money raised will be reinvested in talent development across the studio, including bursaries at the Aardman Academy and programs for emerging filmmakers. "The Aardman 50th anniversary auction is an unprecedented opportunity to own a part of the studio's 50-year history," said Ngaio Harding-Hill, Aardman's Director of Attractions & Live Experiences and Archive, in a statement, adding that the curated collection includes contributions such as an original Nick Park sketch produced for the occasion.

Bidding is open now, with the live event concluding the sale on September 24. Registration and the full catalog are available through Propstore, and those who sign up are also entered into a giveaway for a Blue Teapot from the Shaun the Sheep TV series.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast