SOMEBODY BUY ME A FRAGGLE: Jim Henson Company Memorabilia Auction Rakes In $2.6 Million and Proves That Nostalgia is Priceless (and Expensive)

Alright, you poor, financially crushed nostalgia junkies, gather ’round. The Jim Henson Company, celebrating its 70th Anniversary, just partnered with the magnificent, wallet-destroying fiends at Julien’s Auctions to unleash a massive, four-hundred-item deep-cut of the most iconic puppets and props in cinematic history. And the results? They were ludicrous.

We’re talking pieces from Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, and even Miss Piggy’s shoe collection. Over $2.6 million was hauled in, proving that yes, there are enough weirdos out there willing to drop major dough to own a physical piece of their childhood trauma/joy.

If you weren’t watching the bidding war, you missed out on the most chaotic, emotional rollercoaster this side of a Skeksis ceremony. Let’s dive into the glorious, high-priced madness.

The Dark Crystal: When Props Become Priceless Horrors

If you thought the prequel series Age of Resistance was visually stunning, wait until you hear how much the centerpiece props went for. The absolute star of the show was the full-size Crystal of Truth prop. This translucent purple beauty, the very source of all life (and eventual evil) in Thra, was estimated to go for $20,000 to $30,000. It ended up fetching a mind-blowing $89,600!

Think about that: someone just spent enough money to buy a luxury sedan on a chunk of purified cosmic magic. We also saw bidding wars break out over pieces of the Skeksis—the villainous, conniving bird-lizards—and various Gelfling puppets, proving that the demand for high fantasy puppet angst is higher than ever.

Down in Fraggle Rock: Traveling Matt Racks Up the Dough

While the Gelflings and Skeksis were busy tearing up the fantasy market, the biggest emotional hitters came straight from the tunnels beneath our feet.

For anyone who grew up with the existential joy of Fraggle Rock, the highlight had to be seeing the puppets of the beloved cave dwellers go under the hammer. The intrepid explorer Uncle Travelling Matt—the poor soul who thought our garbage was the most fascinating thing on Earth—sold for a whopping $64,000.

Even better? A Doozer puppet—one of the small, green, hard-hatted workers whose sole purpose is to endlessly build stuff for Fraggles to eat—sold for $57,600. We’re talking about an obscure background character (no offense to Doozers; they’re the backbone of that ecosystem) selling for the price of a small apartment down by the bay. That’s commitment, folks.

Labyrinth: The Things Jim Kept

The auction also featured items that had a more personal connection to Jim Henson himself. While a Goblin Helmet from Labyrinth was up for grabs, the real emotional core came from the items Henson held onto. A prop pocket watch from the production of Labyrinth that Henson kept as a personal memento realized $19,200. It’s the closest fans could get to owning a piece of the man who created the dream worlds.

The Final Tally

Ultimately, this auction wasn’t just about the dollar signs; it was a powerful reminder of Jim Henson’s staggering 70-year legacy. These sales ensure that the Jim Henson Company Archives—the literal keepers of the magic—get the support they need to preserve these tangible pieces of pop-culture history for future generations.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to check our couch cushions to see if we can pool enough change for Miss Piggy’s lavender heels. They sold for $22,400, and honestly, that’s a steal for iconic Muppet footwear.