Fans of 1980s BBC sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo could snaffle a classic piece of TV history when topless artwork The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies goes up for auction next month.
The portrait, which was key to many of the farcical plots of the Second World War comedy starring Gorden Kaye as René Artois, has been hanging on the wall of the current owner’s lounge for the past ten years.
Although several copies of the fictional masterpiece were created for filming during the show’s run between 1982 and 1992, it is believed this version is the last one around.
Others are thought to have been damaged or destroyed during production meaning – to paraphrase Michelle of the French Resistance – it will be sold only once.
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And according to auctioneers, this lone copy could sell for up to a whopping £10,000.
The Nazis’ foiled attempts to seize the painting by made up artist Van Klomp, depicting a bare-breasted woman seated in front of mountain range background, was a running joke in the much-loved series.
René and his pals in the Resistance in German-occupied France hid the piece of art from the likes of Gestapo agent Herr Flick and Lt. Gruber in a variety of ridiculous ways, including up cafe owner René’s shirt, buried in the ground and even in a sausage.
It also survived being cut up in storyline, with one of the subject’s breasts being sliced out of the painting.
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In the final episode of the show it turned up in the arm of a statue outside René’s bar after being missing since the end of the war.
Previously owned by the production designer of the final series, the current owner is believed to have purchased this piece of telly nostalgia for £4,000 at a school fundraiser in 2007.
A representative for East Bristol Auctions noted the iconic prop has “become its own masterpiece”.
Would you stump up ten grand for it?
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