FAIRYTALE ENDING

Two original concept paintings from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs were the hot lots at an American auction of Disney animation art, reminding us of the exquisite quality of Walt Disney's early feature films

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Animation art is not just cherished, it's revered,' said Heritage Auctions' specialist Jim Lentz after the Dallas saleroom mounted its most successful animation sale to date, 'The Art of Disney Signature Auction'. The five-day online sale, held from 7th-11th August last year, drew in more than 4,000 bidders and achieved 'white glove' status as every one of the 1,648 lots sold, bringing in a total of $5.19m. Standout finds included a hand-inked production celluloid (cel) from 1955's Lady and the Tramp that made $36,000; a concept painting by Mary Blair for Alice in Wonderland, 1951, $31,200; and a production cel from The Jungle Book, 1967, featuring Mowgli and Baloo, $36,000. 'This extraordinary auction showcased the very best of Disney, from the bold visionaries who shaped the studio's golden eras to the passionate collectors who preserve that legacy,' says Lentz.

One of the consigners was Daniel Shak, whose 58-lot Disney collection brought in over $1m. Mr Shak's cache of original production art began with the ‘Golden Age’ of the studio, from 1937-42, when it released five feature-length films, including Pinocchio and Bambi. It ended with the ‘Renaissance’ era, from 1989-99, covering the acclaimed blockbuster movies, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. His collection brimmed with rare animation treasures: hand-painted cels, enchanting concept art that was at the root of every film, and behind-the-scenes drawings. ‘The first Disney film I saw growing up was