‘Succession’ props public sale fetches $25,000 for Roman Roy’s eulogy notes for Logan Roy’s funeral

The voluminous Burberry tote is without doubt one of the most well-known props used on “Succession,” the famed HBO saga of the Roy household dynasty, and it bought at public sale Saturday for $18,750.

However that bag, which grew to become infamous when Matthew Macfadyen’s Tom Wambsgans savagely ridiculed it, wasn’t even the priciest merchandise bought from the set of the addictive drama expected to also clean up at Monday’s Emmy Awards, on the heels of its Golden Globes wins.

No, that was a set of pink index playing cards containing Roman Roy’s eulogy notes for his father’s funeral — a speech he by no means gave. Starting, “My father Logan Roy was a great man,” the 4 playing cards signify the tragic failure of Roman (Kieran Culkin) to fulfill the second. They’ve a brand new life now with somebody who paid $25,000 and hopefully will body them properly.

The net public sale on behalf of HBO at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, ending Saturday, introduced in a complete of $627,825 for 236 tons. The outcomes confirmed not solely that people loved the show, says Heritage spokesperson Robert Wilonsky, but additionally that significant objects, and never the present’s high-end “stealth” fashion, clicked most with bidders.

“At the end of the day, it was key moments of the show that resonated with fans,” he says.

Props usually take a again seat to costumes. In spite of everything, there’s no award for “best props” at awards reveals, like there’s for costumes, notes “Succession” prop grasp Monica Jacobs, who joined the present after the pilot episode. However prop departments go to excessive lengths to safe simply the fitting merchandise — even when it solely seems for just a few seconds. Jacobs shared the origin tales of among the present’s most iconic props.

DRIED SCORPIONS IN THE OVEN

Why did Tom give spouse Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) a paperweight of a dried scorpion encased in resin? Who is aware of? It actually illustrated the turbulence of their marriage — and likewise brought about just a few turbulent hours in Jacobs’ kitchen at dwelling.

“It turns out you can buy (dead) scorpions pretty easily,” she says, “but they’re small. Getting them large enough was not easy.”

As soon as she had a bunch — duplicates are all the time wanted — she needed to soak them to loosen up the glue in order that she may reposition them for max impact. She stabilized them with wire and slow-baked them for hours on low warmth till they have been dry sufficient to be encased. All for a short look. And possibly a spot on somebody’s desk: a reproduction bought for a cool (and baked) $10,000.

MOURNFUL WORDS

Roman’s unhappy, pink notecards with that eulogy by no means spoken weren’t the one scribbled phrases that went for a fortune. On the day Logan died on his personal aircraft, Shiv was the one who spoke to the ready press.

“You’ll understand I won’t be taking questions,” she mentioned, partially, “but my brothers and I just want to say Logan Roy built a great American family company…”

The phrases have been written in block letters in Snook’s personal handwriting. She did the primary card after which, for duplicates, her writing was recreated. Likewise, Culkin’s handwriting impressed his pink notecards, Jacobs says. As for Jeremy Strong, who performed Kendall, he usually most well-liked to write down each copy himself. Shiv’s speech card went for $17,500.

THAT … BAG

Let’s simply say Bridget, the date of Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) at Logan’s party, made an unlucky accent selection. Tom, in his worst “human-grease-stain” way, imagined aloud what may very well be within the “ludicrously capacious” tote: “Flat shoes for the subway? Her lunch pail? … You could take it camping. You could slide it across the floor after a bank job.”

Jacobs explains that discovering the proper bag to match the script was a collaboration between the props and wardrobe departments.

“Everybody brought in a version,” she says. “We had to decide, how big IS this bag, actually?” Additionally — it wanted to be simply the fitting stage of high-end, “not enough for the Roy world, but still higher end than I am,” she quips. Finally, costume designer Michelle Matland “had the vision,” Jacobs says.

The successful bidder additionally obtained an embroidered Sandro costume.

MAKING THOSE MAGAZINES LOOK REAL

When the Roys seem on the duvet of New York magazine, you would possibly suppose it’s only a matter of slapping collectively just a few pages within the artwork studio. However no.

It begins with an actual difficulty of the journal, to get the load and the dimensions precisely proper. Then, not simply the duvet however internal pages are created too, and punctiliously integrated.

“It’s a very delicate process” to make the journal look genuine, Jacobs says. “We’re very picky about how we do it.”

The duvet bought for $10,000.

SOME OF THOSE SAUSAGES WERE REAL

Do not forget that horrific sport, or hazing ritual, that Logan inflicted on his poor executives, forcing them to grunt like pigs and beg for sausages? Some sausages have been actual, as wanted, and a few pretend. (A bunch of prop sausages went for $5,250.)

However largely, meals — at weddings, or different gatherings — was not solely actual however intricate, evocative of the locale, and enjoyable to create, says Jacobs.

“Every cheese board has to be a little different than the last time we did a cheese board,” she says. “We got very creative.”

THE DRUGS, THOUGH? NOT REAL

Ever surprise what serves for cocaine on set? A set of vials containing a white powder went for $2,000. Jacobs and her colleagues had to make use of substance that regarded actual and was additionally … snortable.

On this case it was a naturally occurring sugar, inositol. At different instances, lactose powder was used — “as long as the person could tolerate lactose.”

SAME WITH THE THE CREDIT CARDS

Three a lot of Roy household bank cards have been auctioned, however they gained’t be accepted at your native grocery store. The playing cards have been crafted by a graphic designer, then despatched for printing at a particular store in New York, on both plastic or metallic.

“The plastic ones are are actually much more durable as props,” says Jacobs. “But,” she provides, “with ‘Succession’ characters it made sense for most of them to be metal.”

Certainly. Kendall’s playing cards — two American Express Platinums, two Credit cards and one driver’s license — went for $10,000.