NEW YORK—Two dozen costumes of "The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini, who plays head mobster Tony Soprano, will be auctioned June 25 at Christie's auction house on Rockefeller Plaza. The "Sopranos" lots will highlight Christie's Pop Culture series of auctions that include film, comic book, music, and toy collectibles.
Gandolfini donated his entire wardrobe from the show. Proceeds from the auctions will go to the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that provides programs and services for wounded members of our armed forces.
Wounded Warrior Project Founder and Executive Director John Melia commended Gandolfini on his work with the organization. "[We are] thankful for James Gandolfini's commitment to our organization," he said. "His public support and generous donation gives a world-wide voice to the severely wounded men and women WWP assists."
Gandolfini's wardrobe includes articles of clothing from head to toe, including suits, shirts, bathrobes, and shoes. Costume design on The Sopranos was critically acclaimed; the show's costume designer Juliet Polsca was twice nominated for an Emmy. Among the many costumes up for grabs, a bloody black and beige polo shirt stands out. In the first episode of season six, "Members Only," Gandolfini's character Tony was shot while wearing the shirt.
While the focus is on Gandolfini's donated garments, Christie's is also auctioning costumes from other characters in "The Sopranos" and a plethora of pop culture items.
Film memorabilia includes action figures from Star Wars, plaster models of Disney's Mickey and Goofy, and screenplays of Gone with the Wind and The Godfather: Part II.
Posters, albums, photos, and other collectibles from Elvis, The Who, and Led Zeppelin grace the wall and the galleries. Letters from President John F. Kennedy and autographed photos of NASA astronauts added a historical element to the pop culture auction.
However, only proceeds from Gandolfini's Sopranos items will be for charity. Winners of Gandolfini's outfits can rest assured that they are receiving truly unique mementos and that their money is going toward a great cause. The lucky bidder who wins Gandolfini's bloody shirt can also rest assured that they need not have any health scares, since the blood on the shirt is only stage blood.
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