‘Game of Thrones’ dragon-forged Iron Throne fetches nearly US$1.5 million at auction

“Game of Thrones” fans came out in droves to bid on hundreds of costumes, props and other items from the series in an auction that raked in over US$21 million.

From Thursday through Saturday, the Heritage Auctions event in Dallas featured over 900 lots including suits of armor, swords and weapons, jewelry and several other items of significance from the HBO series.

The top-dollar item was the very thing the characters in the series vied for throughout its eight-season run: the Iron Throne. After a six-minute bidding war, the throne sold for US$1.49 million.

The replica was made of plastic and molded from the original screen-used version, then finished off with metallic paint and jewel embellishments. In the series, the throne was forged with dragon breath that melted the swords of a thousand vanquished challengers and became a symbol of the struggle for power throughout the show’s run.

Heritage Auctions said in a statement Sunday that the event brought in US$21.1 million from more than 4,500 bidders. The auction marked Heritage’s second-best entertainment event, just shy of the record set by a Debbie Reynolds sale it held in 2011.

Heritage Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena said in a statement he knew the auction would resonate.

“These are extraordinary treasures made by Emmy-winning costume designers and prop makers, who worked tirelessly to adapt George R.R. Martin’s wonderful novels,” Maddalena said. “People wanted a piece of that ‘Game of Thrones’ magic.”

Beyond the coveted Iron Throne, over 30 other lots commanded six-figure price tags.

Jon Snow’s signature sword, Longclaw, wielded onscreen by Kit Harington, sold for US$400,000 and his night’s watch ensemble, featuring a heavy cape, went for US$337,500. Both items kicked off prolonged bidding wars.

Starting bids ranged from US$500 to US$20,000, but several items went for thousands of dollars more. Such was the case for several cloaks and dresses worn by Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen and Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister. A gray suede ensemble worn by Daenerys sold for US$112,500, exactly US$100,000 over its starting bid, and the red velvet dress Cersei wears in her final appearance on the show went for US$137,500, which was US$122,500 over its starting bid.

Suits of armor also proved popular, especially when they included sought-after weapons. Jaime Lannister’s black-leather armor ensemble fetched US$275,000 and his Kingsguard armor — including his iconic Oathkeeper longsword — went for US$212,500. Queensguard armor worn by the character Gregor ‘The Mountain’ Clegane sold for US$212,500.

In an interview when the auction was announced in September, Jay Roewe, HBO’s senior vice president of global incentives and production planning, said the sale speaks to the series’ staying power five years after its finale.

“‘Game of Thrones’ was a zeitgeist moment in our culture. It was a zeitgeist moment in high-end television. It was a zeitgeist moment in terms of HBO,” he said. “It’s impacted the culture.”