Iconic Prop House Collection Goes Under the Hammer
More than 850 extraordinary props from the world of film, television and theatre are to be sold live online by UK auction house Lyon & Turnbull in a unique two-day sale.
From ‘Practically Perfect’ mirrors to a desk suitable for a young Viscount, chairs from a School of Hidden Doors to Louis Vuitton luggage, the auction, The Secret Life of Props: The Eccentric Trading Company Collection, which features the treasures of the renowned London prop house the Eccentric Trading Company, will take place on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 September.
After nearly four decades supplying the film, television, and theatre industries with some of the world’s most remarkable props, Eccentric Trading Company, based in Acton, is preparing to open its doors one final time for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to own a piece of cinematic history.
Run by the Jordan family since 1986, it’s been described as a true “warehouse of wonders where every piece in the collection has a story – and many have lived multiple lives on stage and screen.”
Although the productions in which the props were used can’t be revealed, buyers and collectors with a keen eye may well recognise some of the striking pieces on offer.
The Jordan family’s connection to the industry stretches back generations. Founded by Spencer Jordan, his grandfather supplied kitchen units for live soap opera broadcasts, while other family members provided uniforms, specialist equipment, and vintage technology for studios.
Building on this legacy, Spencer began sourcing unusual and historic pieces in the 1980s, gradually shaping Eccentric Trading into one of the UK’s most distinctive prop houses.
Today, its inventory ranges from late Georgian armchairs bearing “honourable scars” of age, to rosewood tables cut from trees seeded as far back as the ninth century. Carousel horses, copper baths, Art Deco screens, and sixteenth century tapestries sit alongside custom-made curiosities.
At a time when CGI dominates modern productions, Eccentric Trading has stood firm for the irreplaceable value of the tangible.
Owner Spencer Jordan explained: “It’s always going to be easier to act and direct within a physical boundary. You can’t replace the way people interact with real things.
“Actors instinctively know how to hold a book, lean on a table, or sink into a chair. The creak of timber, the cold of bronze, the imperfections of age - these are the details that anchor performances in reality and give stories their atmosphere.”
Head of Sale, Andrew Robb, added: “This is, as you can imagine, a hugely exciting auction which marks the end of an era but also the beginning of new journeys for these storied objects.
“Collectors, filmmakers, and lovers of craftsmanship will have the rare chance to own pieces that have quietly shaped the look and feel of British film and television for nearly forty years.
“As Spencer says, ‘When you’re dealing with quality pieces, they’re never actually gone. They just move elsewhere - and they’ll outlive us all.’”
