The creation of the Muppets and many other inventions by US puppeteer and animator Jim Henson (1936-1990) have long been cult. There is also great interest in one of them auction over 400 pieces from the Jim Henson Company in Los Angeles with offerings from around the world. The auction house Julien’s Auctions announced that a total of 2.6 million dollars (approximately 2.2 million euros) was raised at the auction.
Among the highlights are the shoes worn by Miss Piggy in the famous cycling scene in the film “The Big Muppet Show” (1981). These lavender suede pumps sold for over $22,000, more than three times the estimated price.
A large purple crystal prop from the fantasy series “The Dark Crystal: Era of Resistance” reached a top price of just under $90,000. The work was previously estimated at $20,000. Henson was involved in the film “The Dark Crystal” (1982).
The iconic doll goes under the hammer
Iconic dolls from the show “The Fraggles” (“Fraggle Rock”), which aired between 1983 and 1987, were also up for auction. The well-traveled, white-haired “Uncle Matt” figure alone brought in $64,000.
Jim Henson’s personal items found new owners at auction. The striped jacket (and Miss Piggy-print tie) that Henson wore to a 1989 celebration at Walt Disney World Resort cost more than $6,000. Nearly $4,000 was offered for five of the mastermind’s old business cards, far more than the $300 estimate.
According to Julien’s Auctions, this is the first auction of items from the Jim Henson Company, which was founded in the late 1950s. Iconic characters such as Ernie and Bert, Cookie Monster, Kermit the Frog and pig lady Miss Piggy were created there for series such as “Sesame Street” and “Muppet Show.” Henson died in 1990 at the age of 53.
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