Princess Diana’s Iconic Black Sheep Jumper Sells for $1.14 Million
In a dazzling event at Sotheby’s auction in New York, Princess Diana’s memorable black sheep jumper fetched a jaw-dropping $1.14 million (£920,000). This red jumper, famously worn by Diana in June 1981 shortly after her engagement, far exceeded its expected value of $50,000 to $80,000 (£40,000 to £70,000).
The extraordinary find happened in March when designer Joanna Osborne stumbled upon the sweater in an attic. The jumper features a playful black sheep amidst a sea of white ones and stands as one of the earliest creations by Osborne and Sally Muir for Warm and Wonderful knitwear, established in 1979.
The identity of the fortunate bidder who secured this prized possession remains a mystery.
Sotheby’s described the sweater as adorned with a “whimsical black and white sheep motif” and emphasized its significance as one of the pioneering designs from the knitwear brand.
Inside the Sotheby’s catalogue, it was revealed that Diana Spencer wore this iconic piece in 1981 at a polo match alongside Prince Charles. Additionally, the lot includes two official letters from Buckingham Palace written in 1981, politely explaining that the jumper had suffered damage and requesting a repair or replacement.
Warm and Wonderful promptly sent her a replacement sweater, which she wore to another polo match in 1983. The investigation into the authenticity of the jumper highlighted details such as the damaged cuff, the distinctive shape, the lone black sheep at the shoulders, and subtle variations in the sheep’s eyes, individually hand-sewn.
The confirmation of the jumper’s authenticity was backed by a photo-matched authentication from Sotheby’s, confirming that the lost sheep jumper found in an attic is indeed the original one worn by Princess Diana over four decades ago.
Online bidding commenced on August 31, coinciding with the 26th anniversary of Diana’s tragic passing in a car accident in Paris. The fame of this jumper was such that a replica is preserved at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Some observers have speculated about the deeper meaning behind Diana’s later appearances in the garment. They see the single black sheep as symbolic of her perception of her role within the Royal Family—an idea also hinted at in “The Crown” when Emma Corrin donned it in a season 4 episode of the Netflix series.