News Ryedale Auctioneers on the hunt as collectors go crazy for Lilliput Lane cottages By Claudia Bowes Published 8th Aug 2024, 10:10 BST Comment Valuer Charlotte Trueman with a model which fetched £340 + buyer’s premium. Ryedale Auctioneers are looking for collections of Lilliput Lane models, which have changed from quaint and unfashionable to sought-after collector’s items after a surge in overseas auction prices. The attractive and accurately modelled miniature buildings and chocolate box cottages of Lilliput Lane are instantly recognisable, having been displayed in thousands of homes across the UK since they were first introduced in the early 1980s.
As trends have changed many collectors have relegated their models to the attic or garage but an upsurge in overseas buyers has sent auction prices for Lilliput Lane soaring, with limited edition models frequently fetching hundreds of pounds at auction. Previous collectors are now raiding their storage spaces to find their old collections, turning them into windfalls of cash. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sign up to our daily The Scarborough News Today newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to The Scarborough News, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
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All Lilliput Lane models are based on real buildings, with many being historical or listed buildings.They were very popular in the 1980s and 1990s, and at one point the Lilliput Lane Collectors Club boasted 50,000 members. In the 2010s their popularity waned and the factory closed in 2016.
According to the valuers, limited editions or Christmas/winter themed models fetch great prices. Valuer Vanya Slater, of Ryedale Auctioneers in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire said: “In the past couple of years Lilliput Lane models have become really popular with Chinese and Korean buyers, who buy the models from us at auction and ship them overseas for their own collections or to resell. "We’ve been surprised at the high prices some models have achieved, and we recently sold a single limited edition model for £1,000 plus auction fees.
” According to Vanya, these are what Lilliput Lane buyers want to see: Mint condition models with no colour fading or damage Must have their original boxes Limited editions, particularly editions with very low numbers Larger sized models tend to fetch a premium Christmas and winter-themed editions are popular with buyers To discuss consigning a collection with Ryedale Auctioneers, email [email protected] or call 01751 431 544. Continue Reading Related topics: North Yorkshire Comment Comment Guidelines National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting.
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