Million-dollar sweater: Bids pour in for Diana's sheep jumper

Million-dollar sweater: Bids pour in for Diana's sheep jumper

By Alifereti Sakiasi
15/09/2023
Princess Diana first wore the sheep jumper to a polo match in 1981 [Photo: Vogue]

Princess Diana's sweater featuring a black sheep among rows of white ones has sold for $1.14 million (£920,000) at an auction by Sotheby's in New York.

Bidding opened 31 August, and the top bid stayed under $200,000 (£161,000) until the auction's final minutes.

Sotheby's had estimated the value of the "sheep jumper" at $50,000 to $80,000 (£40,300 to £64,500).

It did not disclose the identity of the winning bidder.

The simple piece of knitwear, which was unearthed in an attic in March, commanded a higher price than many other objects tied to the "People's Princess" that were sold at auctions in recent years.

Diana's car, a Ford Escort, may be the closest, going for $806,000 (£650,000) in 2022.

The amethyst-bedecked Attallah Cross that Diana frequently wore was sold to reality star Kim Kardashian for roughly one-fifth of the sweater's amount - $203,000 (£163,800) - at an auction in January.

The sweater's design is often described as symbolic of Diana's place within the royal family.

But fashion historians believe Diana was not sending a message, as she may have done in later years with her famous "revenge dress", when she wore the sweater in 1981, a month before her wedding to then Prince Charles. Instead, many say Diana was simply sporting the "Sloane Ranger" style she helped popularise.

In the era before social-media influencers, newspaper photos of Diana in the sweater gave its maker, Warm and Wonderful knitwear, a "stratospheric launch" and inspired copycat designs, according to Sotheby's.

Shortly after her marriage, Buckingham Palace wrote to Warm and Wonderful that the sweater had been damaged and sought a repair or replacement. Princess Diana then wore the replacement to another polo match in 1983.

Sotheby's included the letter to Warm and Wonderful as well as a thank-you note for the replacement in the auction lot. It also used the sweater's small hole to confirm authenticity.

Source: BBC News

FEATURE NEWS
PM visits Robertson Road and tells Police to intensify patrols
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka visited the site at Robertson Road in Suva where some minors have been seen injecting drugs like experts. fijivilla...
11 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
New water pipe system worth more than $3,000 commissioned at Naloto District School
Students of Naloto District School in Ba will no longer have to drink from water tanks after Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka commissioned a new water ...
10 hours ago

New bridge brings hope and connectivity to Bua communities
More than 800 people in the communities of Dalomo, Lomanikoro, and Tiliva in Bua may soon have safer and quicker access to schools, farms, health ...
10 hours ago

$650 per acre relief package for burnt sugarcane farms – Minister for Sugar
Sugarcane farmers who have been affected by off-season fires will be given a one-off rehabilitation package of $650 per acre of sugarcane ...
10 hours ago

Tudravu calls on parents to put away their phones and prioritize time with their kids
A strong message was delivered by the Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu to parents during the Nadroga Arya College pass-out parade to put away ...
12 hours ago

Dr Lalabalavu says kids doing drugs in public in Suva a stark reminder of the drug crisis
Minister for Health, Doctor Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says the video circulating of a group of what looks like kids doing drugs in public at Robertson ...
14 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Ben Salacakau and Glenis Yee on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show focuses on the gaps in Fiji’s education system and what needs to be done, the pressure on committee run schools to keep the schools ...
1 day ago

Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s coach Osea Kolinisau on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Osea Kolinisau on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
5 days ago

Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Vimlesh Sagar’s abuse of office case
Sayed-Khaiyum is charged with one count of abuse of office and one count of general dishonesty causing a loss while Vimlesh Sagar is charged with one ...
5 days ago

TOP