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
Friday 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




fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
FEATURE NEWS
Raravisa family in Tamavua to have double celebration after Adi Vasemaca’s successful heart surgery
It will be a double celebration for the Raravisa family in Tamavua as they will be celebrating Christmas and their eldest daughter Adi Vasemaca Raravi...
4 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
TLTB vehicle slams into Suvavou House
An iTaukei Land Trust Board vehicle has hit the front of the Suvavou House. Divisional Police Commander Central, SP Farasiko Matawalu says the ...
23 minutes ago

Tabuya reveals harsh realities of climate change in Fiji
Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya has revealed the harsh realities of extreme weather, rising sea levels, escalating ...
4 hours ago

Acting CEO of LTA, Irimaia Rokosawa to appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan at 7pm tomorrow
Acting CEO of Land Transport Authority, Irimaia Rokosawa will appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan at 7pm tomorrow. The show ...
4 hours ago

Environment Dept looks into rubbish being illegally dumped in Wailoku
The Department of Environment is looking into a case where rubbish is being dumped by a group of people in an empty plot in Wailoku. In videos ...
18 hours ago

Demand for labour continues to rise in Fiji – RBF
The demand for labour continues to rise, reflective of the rebounding economic activity coupled with higher labour emigration according to the ...
18 hours ago
IN DEPTH
PM’s motion passed to reduce overseas travel allowances for the PM, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Leader of Opposition and MPs
Parliament has passed the Prime Minister’s motion to reduce the rates payable for overseas travelling allowances for the Prime Minister, Cabinet ...
13 days ago

CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Joel Abraham appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Joel Abraham appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
19 days ago

HIV infections in Fiji increased 260% since 2010, making Fiji the second fastest-growing epidemic in the Asia Pacific region
Speaker of Parliament and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for the Pacific Region, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau says according to the Global AIDS Monitoring Report, Fiji is in the top 5 countries of rising new HIV infections in the Asia Pacific region amongst the 15 t
23 days ago

TOP