The whimsically patterned "Black Sheep" sweater, worn by Princess Diana shortly after her engagement to Prince Charles, fetched over $1.1 million in a spirited final bidding war, Sotheby’s revealed on Thursday. Diana, then 19, donned this knitted piece adorned with rows of fluffy white sheep and one distinctive black sheep at a June 1981 polo match, amidst her early days as a reserved royal-to-be. This charmingly designed sweater, known as the "Black Sheep," emerged as one of Diana's most iconic garments, subtly foreshadowing her tumultuous journey within the British royal family.
The sweater's final price, totaling $1.1 million inclusive of fees and commission, was the result of a fierce online bidding battle. This figure far exceeded Sotheby’s initial estimate of $50,000 to $80,000. Due to an avalanche of bids, the auction was extended, and in the last 15 minutes, the price surged from $190,000 to $1.1 million.
This sale marked the highest price ever paid for a garment belonging to Princess Diana at auction, surpassing the $604,000 fetched by her Infanta-style ball gown in January. Additionally, it set a new record for the most valuable sweater ever sold at auction.
Crafted by then-unknown designers Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne and their knitting company Warm and Wonderful, the sweater propelled them to fame. After Diana was pictured in it, the designers received a letter reporting damage to one of the sleeves and asking for repair or replacement. They sent her a new one, assuming the original had been repaired and sent to a customer. However, in March 2023, Osborne found the sweater in a small box in her attic.
In addition to the sweater, the auction featured the repair request letter, along with a thank-you note from Diana’s private secretary, Oliver Everett. The sweater's iconic status even led to its appearance (via a replica) in the fourth season of the Netflix series "The Crown," chronicling the recent history of the House of Windsor.
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