A bizarre denim outfit bought for a fiver in a clothes sale decades ago sparked an international auction bidding battle thanks to its blockbuster movie credentials.
The quirky attire, which resembles short baggy dungarees, was bought in the late 1970s by a woman out shopping with a friend in Camden, London, for around £5.
She had no idea they were anything special but thought they might make a fun fancy-dress outfit. However, labels inside the outfit revealed they’d been made for actor Joe Kaye who played a Lutrillian in the first Star Wars film in 1977.
The denim outfit went under the hammer at Hansons London on May 28 with a guide price of £800-£1,200 – and sold for a whopping £9,000. With buyer’s premium and VAT, the total price paid by a private American online bidder was £12,456.
Chris Kirkham, associate director at Hansons London, said: “We knew interest was strong as bids started to flood in well ahead of auction day. Nevertheless, we were still dazzled by the result. Those denim dungarees really did skyrocket.
“I’m thrilled for our client as she only had the item valued as an afterthought. She brought them along to one of our Walk-In Wednesday valuations days at the Normansfield Theatre in Teddington. They’d been in her wardrobe for 40 years. She had no idea the outfit might be valuable or sought after. It just goes to show how important it is to have things assessed if you have an inkling they might be valuable.”
The seller, from South London, said: I was thrilled and totally astonished as the price kept going up. It was so exciting. I will be taking my granddaughter shopping”
“I’m not sure why they took my eye. I found the outfit at a theatrical clothing sale in Camden. I just remember seeing rails and rails of clothes. I noticed the name on the label had the initials JK – the same as mine. I thought I could wear it to a fancy-dress party or something.
“I had no idea the dungarees were of any significance when I bought them. Fairly recently, when I became more tech savvy, I decided to do some research and discovered more. The label in the jacket says ‘Joe Kaye, colonel 10545 Star Wars’.
“Joe was an actor who I’d read portrayed a Lutrillian in the first Star Wars film, Episode IV A New Hope. The outfit’s been in my wardrobe for more than 40 years. It travelled around with me whenever I’ve moved.
“I only took it along to be valued as an afterthought with something else. I was astonished by the valuation. I had no idea it could be worth so much.”
Chris said: “Star Wars is a worldwide phenomenon with legions of fans all over the world. It’s estimated that more than one billion people have seen a Star Wars movie. That first film started it all and collectors were keen to bid on a costume linked to one of the world’s biggest blockbuster movies.
“The label in the outfit provided the provenance. As well as stating Joe Kaye’s name and ‘Star Wars’, it contained the makers’ information, Bermans & Nathans, 40 Camden Street, London NW1. They were legendary costume designers.
“The late English actor Joe Kaye is listed as Solomohal in the cast of the first Star Wars film. It features a vast, weird and quirky array of characters from different planets so the bizarre denim outfit fitted in well. Apparently, during production, the crew referred to the Lutrillians as ‘The Colonel’ and the ‘Hare Mouse’. The word ‘Colonel’ appears on the clothing label, too.
“Joe may have played only a small part in the film but it became one of the biggest movies of all time. When it debuted in May 1977 it was an instant hit making $1.5 million (£1.2m) in theatres, a number unheard of at the time. The film went on to make more than $775 million (£627m) worldwide.”
The Star Wars outfit sold on May 28 in Hansons London’s Fine Art, Antiques and Collectors Auction. Entries are invited for monthly sales at Hansons London.
Free antique, jewellery and collectables valuations are offered every Wednesday, 10am-4pm, at the Normansfield Theatre, 2A Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS. No appointment necessary. To find out more, email: [email protected] or [email protected].
