Peter Firmin's Artwork Fetches Over £400k at Canterbury Auction

A two-day auction showcasing the artwork of Peter Firmin, who helped create beloved British children's TV figures, concluded successfully with all 534 pieces sold for over £400,000. This collection, discovered at Firmin’s home in Kent, included paintings, books, and various collectibles. Among the standout sales were works featuring The Clangers and Noggin the Nog, with a signed Basil Brush piece reaching £6,000. Additionally, an animated Gabriel the Toad and an illustration of Nogbad targeting the Ice Dragon were each sold for £4,200, while a Bagpuss piece depicting Emily and Professor Yaffle fetched £1,600. Auctioneer Susanna Woodgate was thrilled that fans secured these items, some of which will go to The Beaney Museum in Canterbury. Firmin, who died in 2018, co-founded Smallfilms with Oliver Postgate, producing classics from the 1950s to the 1980s, and their work saw a revival around 2014. In 1999, Bagpuss was voted the UK's top children's show.