A collection of specially created Wallace and Gromit statues has sold for a whopping £2m at auction.
The 53 unique sculptures were snapped up by bidders from around the world – with one particularly special piece signed by Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney.
Artists and celebs put their own spin on the beloved characters, creating everything from five-foot-tall Gromit figures to quirky benches and sculptures of favourites like Norbot and the dastardly Feathers McGraw.
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Among the biggest sellers was ‘Darth McGraw’, which fetched a jaw-dropping £70,000, while ‘Bobby Dazzler’ went for £65,000.
A framed artwork titled ‘Feathers with the Pearl’ – a cheeky nod to Vermeer’s famous painting – sold for £60,000.
An authenticated print of Banksy’s Toxic Mary, gifted to the charity by a long-term benefactor, raised £19,000.
The auction was organised by The Grand Appeal to raise funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital and the neonatal intensive care unit at St Michael’s Hospital in the city.
The charity hailed the summer-long sculpture trail as “truly life-changing” for the children and families who will benefit.
“To see these much-loved characters go under the hammer and raise such an astonishing amount is truly humbling,” Nicola Masters, director of The Grand Appeal, told What’s The Jam.
“We are so grateful to every bidder, sponsor, artist and supporter who made this possible.
“These funds will make a life-changing difference for sick children and babies cared for at Bristol Children’s Hospital and St Michael’s Hospital.”
Helena Newman, Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, which hosted the auction, praised the event for bringing together creative excellence from across art, cinema, music and literature through Aardman’s partnership.
She said every single sculpture supported The Grand Appeal’s vital mission to help sick children and their families.
The long-running partnership between Aardman Animations and The Grand Appeal, first formed in 1995, has now raised an incredible £90 million for Bristol’s hospitals.
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