The Jim Henson Firm is placing greater than 400 objects up for public sale by way of Julien’s Auctions. You possibly can bid on over 80 objects together with puppets, memorabilia, and costumes utilized in Henson productions; private objects of Jim Henson; art work created by Caroll Spinney, and even fan newsletters and press packets from the 1980’s. These things cowl a spread of productions, from The Darkish Crystal, Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock to The Darkish Crystal Age of Resistance, Aliens within the Household, and Farscape. On-line bidding is accessible now and an in-person public sale will likely be held at Henson Studios in Hollywood on November 25.
Under we provide ideas for these taking part within the public sale – or watching with envy from the sidelines.
You may also hear extra insights into how the public sale happened and tales behind among the objects in our podcast interview with Karen Falk, archives director for the Jim Henson Firm.
When will the public sale happen?
On-line bidding is now open at juliensauction.com and an in-person occasion will happen on the Henson Studios in Los Angeles on November 25. That’s when the public sale closes.
I can’t make it to Los Angeles. Can I nonetheless take part?
There may be an internet public sale, an in-person public sale, a live-stream public sale in the course of the in-person public sale, or you possibly can bid by telephone in the course of the public sale.
I’ve by no means participated in an public sale. Will this be like when Paddington waved on the auctioneer and by chance purchased a carpentry set?
It’s best to most likely watch the video on easy methods to bid on the public sale web site: https://youtu.be/deq0GJBh03g
How a lot are objects promoting for?
Present costs vary from $100 for a Danhurst Faculty sticker to $17,500 for an Uncle Touring Matt puppet.
I really like the concept of the public sale, however I don’t have lots of or hundreds to spend.
You will get an public sale catalogue for $100 with good footage of all of the objects you possibly can’t afford.
Which productions are represented?
The Muppet Present, The Muppets Valentine Present, Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, Fraggle Roc, The Nice Santa Claus Change, Hey Cinderella!, The Frog Prince, Saturday Night time Dwell, The Muppet Film, The Nice Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Muppet Infants, The Story of Bunny Picnic, The Darkish Crystal, The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance, Labyrinth, The Jim Henson Hour, Canine Metropolis, The Witches, The Christmas Toy, The Secret Lifetime of Toys, The Muppet Christmas Carol, Muppet Treasure Island, Muppets from House, The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss, Brats of the Misplaced Nebula, Aliens within the Household, Farscape, Turkey Hole, The Hoobs. Miss Piggy picture shoots, Muppets Tonight, Dinosaurs, Animal Present, Duff’s Completely happy Enjoyable Bake Time, Mirror Masks, Sid the Science Child, Sesame Avenue, artwork by Caroll Spinney, and private objects from Jim Henson.
Can I actually get objects from The Secret Lifetime of Toys?!
You will get one merchandise from The Secret Lifetime of Toys.
I heard there have been Doozers. Can I actually get Doozers?!
You will get one Doozer.
Is he actually that cute, although?
I imply, completely.
Why are they holding this public sale now?
The public sale was sparked by the closing of the London storage unit when all of the objects from The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance have been moved to the US. The Jim Henson Firm was initially going to do an public sale of simply objects from that manufacturing, however realized that there are different issues as a part of their assortment that they have been able to half with. There are tens of hundreds of things nonetheless within the archives.
Didn’t the Jim Henson Firm wish to hold something from The Darkish Crystal: Age of Resistance?
The Jim Henson Firm stored many issues. Additionally they provided objects as much as museums they companion with and a few will likely be stored within the Netflix Archives. There have been simply so many puppets, props, and costumes used within the manufacturing, they nonetheless had objects left.
How did they select which objects to place up for public sale?
The corporate is celebrating 70 years, in order that they determined to attract from the complete historical past of the corporate and wished to have one thing within the public sale that represented most productions and completely different character teams. Additionally they reached out to the Henson household who shared some private objects from Jim Henson. They usually partnered with Debra Spinney, spouse of Caroll Spinney, to promote a few of Caroll’s art work.
I assumed Caroll Spinney was a puppeteer.
He was. He was additionally an exquisite artist. He contained multitudes.
A few of these puppets are many years previous. They should be toast inside.
All of the puppets have been fastidiously restored and are prepared for show.
What if all I would like is an 8-foot artwork deco portray of Miss Piggy within the fashion of Mucha?
Effectively, my pal, you might be in luck.
Why does every part go to personal collectors and none of the remainder of the followers get to see them?
Fairly a number of objects have joined the everlasting collections of museums throughout the nation the place followers can see them, together with on the Museum of the Shifting Picture in New York, the Heart for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, and the Museum of Pop Tradition in Seattle. You may also see Fozzie’s Studebaker from The Muppet Film on the Studebaker Nationwide Museum in Indiana and even – at the least till subsequent Could – Kermit’s banjo on the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma. Gadgets additionally pop up in touring exhibitions and get loaned out to different museums. Proper now, the Bermuda Nationwide Gallery has an entire exhibit on Michael Frith, together with Muppets like Dr. Enamel and Fozzie. The Muppets aren’t in all places, however they get round.
However I’m a real fan and I deserve these issues greater than collectors who’re simply going to place them in a storage unit or resell them at their earliest likelihood. I might put them on show in my front room and treasure them daily. What I really feel for this stuff is extra beneficial than cash.
That’s not how auctions work. However I hear you. And a few issues will go to true followers. In all probability.
I checked my sofa cushions and it seems I do have lots of, probably hundreds, of {dollars} to spend on puppets, props, and Muppets memorabilia. What do I want to bear in mind?
These costs are going to go up, so it is smart to attend till nearer to the public sale for figuring out your bidding. If you’re interested by an merchandise, attain out to Julien’s Auctions. They’ve extra info similar to situation studies for the objects, measurement, and delivery particulars.
And that worth listed when the public sale ends is it. That’s the total worth, proper?
Don’t neglect to consider taxes, delivery, and a 28% consumers price on high of the hammer worth.
Oh. So I’ve to funds like a 3rd extra along with my most bid.
Math isn’t actually my factor, however one thing like that.
However there are undoubtedly Yukkle Puppets from Aliens within the Household within the public sale?
There are undoubtedly Yukkle Puppets. They usually might be yours.
Click on right here to hurry discuss like an auctioneer on the ToughPigs Discord!
by Drake Lucas
