A collection to build on: giant Lego sculptures go to auction

Manchester auction house Robson Kay Associates have received some very unusual sale instructions in their 29-year history, but nothing could have prepared them for what they found in a large, unmarked warehouse on an industrial estate in Cheshire.

Following the demise of Lego specialists Brick Live International, who built and rented out Lego sculptures for events and tours around the world as far afield as Detroit and Singapore until they entered administration in late 2024, Robson Kay were instructed to catalogue and sell the firm’s inventory of sculptures.

In total, 250 Lego sculptures of animals, fish, dinosaurs, cars, buildings, trains, medieval characters, games and displays have been found.

With opening bids from £5, here are some standouts from the auction:

1. Adult and baby elephant 

Adult and baby elephant, opening bids from £5 at Robson Kay Associates.

2. Reclining kangaroo

Kangaroo, opening bids from £5 at Robson Kay Associates. 

3. Christmas sledge pulled by eight reindeer 

Christmas sledge pulled by eight reindeer complete with Santa and presents, opening bids from £5 at Robson Kay Associates.

4. Santa Claus express train with two carriages

Santa Claus express train with two carriages, opening bids from £5 at Robson Kay Associates. 

5. Fire breathing dragon

Fire breathing dragon, opening bids from £5 at Robson Kay Associates

Many of the sculptures have cards showing the work required to create them. A typical sculpture uses more than 25,000 Lego bricks and takes more than 100 hours to build. The largest sculpture used almost a quarter of a million bricks, weighs almost one ton and took 1200 hours to build.

The auction will run online from now until June 3.