$1.49M for a Plastic Throne? The Wild Bidding War Over a Game of Thrones Icon

In a groundbreaking auction event, a “Dragon-Forged” Iron Throne from Game of Thrones has been sold for a staggering $1.49 million, becoming one of the most coveted pieces of memorabilia from the hit HBO series. The throne, a touring version molded from the original screen-used throne, was the highlight of Heritage Auctions’ “Game of Thrones: The Auction” event, which took place from October 10 to October 12 in Dallas.

The auction, which was completely sold out, attracted over 4,500 bidders from around the globe and amassed a total of $21.1 million in sales. The iconic Iron Throne, made of painted plastic and adorned with jewels to resemble a dragon-forged seat, was particularly prized by collectors. Its design echoes the throne described in Game of Thrones lore as being forged from the “swords of the vanquished” and melted together like “so many candles.” After an intense six-minute bidding war, the throne fetched a seven-figure price, drawing applause from the auction room.

Among the other standout items up for grabs was the “hero” version of Jon Snow’s Valyrian steel bastard sword, Longclaw. Used by Kit Harington’s character throughout the series, the ornate weapon was sold for $400,000, making it the second most expensive item in the auction. Also in high demand was Jon Snow’s iconic outfit from his “Beyond the Wall” expedition in Season 7, which went for $137,500, partly due to the inclusion of a lighter “action” version of Longclaw.

The auction also featured several other iconic Game of Thrones items, including Harington’s famous Night’s Watch costume, which sold for $337,500, and Jaime Lannister’s black-leather armor ensemble, which fetched $275,000. Arya Stark’s boy ensemble, complete with the action version of Needle, sold for $150,000. Daenerys Targaryen’s white-and-gray arctic rabbit fur coat, adorned with the signature triple-dragon head brooch, went for $156,250.

Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President, Joe Maddalena, expressed his excitement about the success of the event, saying, “From the moment we launched the Game of Thrones auction in September, it was clear this was going to resonate with everyone. These are extraordinary treasures made by Emmy-winning costume designers and prop makers, and people wanted a piece of that Game of Thrones magic.”

Janet Graham Borba, HBO’s Executive Vice President of Production, also praised the auction’s success, stating, “These fans continue to be passionate collectors, and we are grateful to them and our partners at Heritage for making this a giant success.”

The event ranks second on the all-time entertainment auction list, surpassing the $21.5 million earned by a previous Heritage Auctions sale but falling just shy of the $22.8 million total from Debbie Reynolds’ collection auction in 2011.

Game of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019, captivating audiences with its epic storylines and unforgettable characters, including Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), Jon Snow (Kit Harington), and many more. Fans from all over the world now have a piece of the show’s legacy to cherish for years to come.