More than 200 original animation models and memorabilia from the Aardman studio were auctioned in London on Thursday, offering fans a rare opportunity to acquire pieces from the creator of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Chicken Run. The event marked the 50th anniversary of the Bristol-based studio, with proceeds designated to support animator training programs.

Among the highlights were stop-motion puppets from the studio’s 2024 film, *Vengeance Most Fowl*. One of the featured lots was a Wallace puppet in his characteristic green tank top, red tie, and brown trousers. The figure’s construction combined a molded clay head with a silicone body designed for smooth repositioning, incorporating a metal skeleton to facilitate movement. Details such as resin teeth, shirt collar, tie, pen, pencil, and plastic eyes were also noted in the auction catalogue.

A Gromit puppet posed on all fours was crafted with a fully jointed internal metal armature, enabling it to hold natural poses. Another standout item was a figure of Feathers McGraw, the character’s villainous penguin disguised as a nun, referenced with a well-known line from *Wallace & Gromit*.

The auction also featured pieces from Aardman’s earlier history, including clay puppets of Morph and Chas, co-created by Aardman co-founder Peter Lord. These puppets, made from Plasticine and accompanied by Lord’s handwritten care instructions, sold for £3,780. Morph, first appearing in 1977 in the children’s series *Take Hart*, has gone on to star in his own series of adventures.

Additional notable sales included a private lunch for six with Peter Lord in Bristol, which fetched over £11,000, and storyboards from *The Wrong Trousers* signed by Nick Park, another prominent Aardman figure, that sold for nearly £4,000. A 9cm clay rabbit prop from *The Curse of the Were-Rabbit* was purchased for close to £10,000.

For those with smaller budgets, more modest souvenirs were available, such as dry-stone walls and a gate from the *Shaun the Sheep* television series, which retained adhesive traces from their original set placement.

The auction, conducted by the memorabilia auction house Propstore, attracted considerable enthusiasm from collectors. While the items were highly sought after, the catalogue emphasized that these were not children’s toys but meticulously crafted pieces of art requiring specialized packaging and handling. The funds raised are intended to provide learning opportunities for emerging animators, ensuring the legacy of Aardman’s distinctive stop-motion craft continues into the future.