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Barnebys Magazine

LatestEditor's picksTopics
Magazine/Memorabilia/Princess Diana's Black Sheep Sweater Sold For $1.1 Million

Princess Diana's Black Sheep Sweater Sold For $1.1 Million

Sotheby's just set a new world record for the most expensive sweater ever sold, achieving a hammer price of $1.1 million. This extraordinary price can be attributed to the sweater's prestigious royal provenance.

15 September 2023Alexander Bitar
Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) wearing 'Black sheep' wool jumper by Warm and Wonderful (Muir & Osborne) to Windsor Polo, June 1981. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)(Detail)

Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997) wearing 'Black sheep' wool jumper by Warm and Wonderful (Muir & Osborne) to Windsor Polo, June 1981. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)(Detail)

With an estimate at $50,000 to $80,000, the sweater once owned and worn by Princess Diana was the leading lot in Sotheby's Fashion Icons auction. The sweater was made by the luxury knitwear brand Warm and Wonderful, who sent it to Princess Diana, who decided to wear it in 1981 at a polo event.

Detailed image of Princess Diana's sheep sweater showing the damage. Image © Sotheby's

A month after the polo event, the sweater was returned from Buckingham Palace to Warm and Wonderful as it was slightly damaged. This resulted in Warm and Wonderful sending a new sweater with the same design. Luckily, the damaged sweater wasn't thrown away but kept. 42 years after it was worn by Princess Diana, the sweater finally hit the auction block, breaking all expectations as it sold for a staggering $1,143,000 (£922,378).

See also: Princess Diana's Iconic Black Sheep Sweater Goes to Auction

Princess Diana's sheep sweater. Image © Sotheby's

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The auction also featured a black evening gown that was worn twice by Princess Diana. The dress was first worn to celebrate Prince Edward's 21st birthday at the Midsummer Nights Ball in June 1985 and later again to the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers Banquet, Mansion House, in December of that same year. The hammer price ended at $381,000 (£307,432). This isn't the first time dresses worn by Princess Diana sell for impressive amounts. Earlier this year, Julien's sold not only one, but three of Diana's dresses, all for more than half a million dollars each.

Find more articles in Barnebys Magazine

princess dianablack sheep sweatermuir and osbornememorabiliafashion

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About the author

Alexander Bitar

Alexander Bitar is an internationally acclaimed dealer of high-end collectibles. Based in Stockholm and Beverly Hills, some of Alexander Bitar's specialties are entertainment and historical memorabilia, vintage luxury watches, autographs, and important manuscripts.

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