With the second season of HBO’s House of the Dragon concluding to lackluster reviews, nostalgia for the fantasy show’s legendary predecessor, Game of Thrones, is at an all time high.
That much was evident during Heritage Auction’s highly-anticipated Game of Thrones: The Auction, which sold more than 900 costumes and props made by the show’s Emmy-winning team. Running from October 10 to 12, the event generated a grand total of $21.1 million, making it the second highest-grossing entertainment auction of all time.
It should go without saying that the most expensive item in the auction turned out to be the Iron Throne. Not the seat used in the actual show, but the one that accompanied the cast and crew on their many promotional tours, allowing fans to pose for pictures as the ruler of fantasy author George R.R. Martin’s Seven Kingdoms.
Touring Iron Throne from Game of Thrones (2011–19). Photo: Heritage Auctions.
Cast from the same mold as the on-screen throne and weighing approximately 310 pounds, this version—made up of the swords of Targaryen dynasty founder Aegon the Conqueror’s fallen enemies—sold for no less than $1.4 million.
Another highly coveted item was Longclaw, the sword of protagonist Jon Snow, which ended up selling for $400,000. In the series’ narrative, this weapon is made from Valyrian steel, a rare and durable material that serves as the equivalent of Damascus steel. It was designed in collaboration with actual blacksmiths.
Valyrian Steel Action Dagger. Photo: Heritage Auctions.
Also included in the auction was an outfit Jon Snow actor Kit Harrington wore during the season 7 episode “Beyond the Wall,” in which he journeys to the far north to capture a wight (read: ice zombie) and bring it back to the capital city of King’s Landing to form an alliance with its murderously untrustworthy queen, Cersei. It went for $137,500.
Jon Snow’s fur coat wasn’t the only costume on sale. His Night’s Watch uniform, an all-black getup symbolizing his allegiance to the sworn brotherhood guarding the kingdom’s northern border against wights and wildlings, sold for $337,500. This is unsurprising, considering it’s one of the most iconic pieces from the entire show’s wardrobe.
Jaime Lannister Kings Guard Armor Ensemble. Photo: Heritage Auctions.
The auction was truly a who’s-who of Westeros paraphernalia, some other noteworthy inclusions being: Jamie Lannister’s golden Kingsguard armor and Oathkeeper sword, melted down from Ned Stark’s great sword Ice (sold for $212,500); the painted map of Westeros which, during later seasons, adorned the floor of one of the Red Keep’s central courtyards ($237,500); and the “Shame Bell” heralding Cersei’s walk of penance ($100,000) ahead of her trial at the Great Sept of Baelor.
Shame Bell from Game of Thrones (2011–19). Photo courtesy Heritage Auctions.
One of the most impressive items sold at the auction was a giant, hand-made tapestry depicting a scene from Robert’s Rebellion, the oft-remembered revolution that overthrew the Targaryen dynasty and replaced “Mad King” Aerys II Targaryen with the eponymous rebel, Robert Baratheon.
Inspired by the geometric and floral motifs of Persian rugs, not to mention the illustrative designs of medieval English textiles like the Bayeux Tapestry, it was originally shown in the background of Season 1’s small council meetings, showing Robert’s forces meeting those of the Mad King’s son, Rhaegar, on the banks of the Trident. It sold for $75,000—a steal compared to some of the other items.