I stood in front of a display of felt noses and painted eyes and a strange, quiet panic climbed up my spine. You know that feeling when an icon becomes an object for sale. Now Aardman is putting those objects in a global auction—and the room feels smaller.
I’ll guide you through what’s going on, why collectors and fans should care, and how you can actually bid if you want to own a sliver of clay animation history.
There are nearly 250 pieces from across Aardman’s catalogue on offer.
The studio has partnered with PropStore to stage a global auction that opens for online, telephone, and absentee bids on September 24. This auction is a museum’s attic turned marketplace. I’m telling you that because it changes the way you value a piece: it is both artifact and opportunity.
Items span the classics—Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave—through to recent hits like Robin Robin and the big-screen sequel Chicken Run 2. Upcoming work, including Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, is represented too. Not included are items from Over the Garden Wall or the 2027 claymation Pokémon Tales series.
Ngaio Harding-Hill, Aardman’s attractions director, says the collection was “carefully curated by the studio’s creative talent” and that proceeds will fund internal talent development—training programs and access pathways intended to bring more people into animation careers. You can interpret that as the studio selling memory to invest in its future.
What Aardman puppets are up for auction?
The lots include original stop-motion puppets, production maquettes, signed posters, animation boards, and props from almost every era of the studio. Expect Wallace and Gromit bits, Shaun the Sheep models, original Morph puppets from 1977, and set pieces from recent productions. PropStore’s catalog lists almost 250 items in total.
On a studio shelf you can still find early experiments and oddball props.
Those small experiments matter to collectors. Nick Park’s name alone adds authority to the sale—he and other Aardman creatives shaped the studio’s identity. If you love animation, owning a prop from a Park-directed film is a direct line to that craft.
Each puppet is a pocket of motion captured in clay. That’s why provenance and condition matter more than decoration. PropStore handles authentication and cataloging; they provide photos and condition reports so bidders know what they’re buying.
How can I buy Aardman puppets?
Register on PropStore’s auction platform before September 24 and review the catalog (PropStore offers online, telephone, and absentee bidding). Expect condition reports and provenance notes for each lot. If you plan to bid, set a limit and arrange shipping in advance—props often require careful crating and insurance.
I’ve watched film auctions turn nostalgia into competitive bidding.
Live bidding can escalate quickly; when a community cares, prices climb. This isn’t the studio closing shop—Aardman is celebrating 50 years—and they’re directing proceeds into talent development rather than general coffers.
For fans, this is a moment: whether you’re a collector, museum curator, or an aspiring animator, the sale is both a sentimental event and a practical chance to gain rare studio pieces. If you’re watching the catalog now, decide what matters—nostalgia, investment, or support for future talent—and bid accordingly.
When is the Aardman auction?
The global auction goes live on September 24 with online, telephone, and absentee options through PropStore. Until that date you can browse the catalog and read condition reports on PropStore’s website.
If you were to place a bid, would you buy to display, to protect for posterity, or to trade in the market for animation collectibles?