Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Iconic Bruce Lee yellow jumpsuit sells for £60,000

The costume was worn by the martial arts legend in ‘Game of Death’, an uncompleted film released after his sudden death

Tomas Jivanda
Friday 06 December 2013 10:56 GMT
Comments
A staff member of Spink China auction house in Hong Kong displays the iconic yellow jumpsuit Bruce Lee wore in the martial art movie 'Game of Death'
A staff member of Spink China auction house in Hong Kong displays the iconic yellow jumpsuit Bruce Lee wore in the martial art movie 'Game of Death'

The iconic yellow jumpsuit worn by martial arts legend Bruce Lee in one of his final roles has fetched over £60,000 at auction in Hong Kong.

The famed one-piece, which is bright yellow with thick black stripes down the side, was just one of two used in the filming of 'Game of Death', a movie that was left incomplete at the time of Mr Lee’s death in 1973 at the age of 32.

Additional footage was later added to release a completed film in 1978. Tributes and references to the jumpsuit have since been made across popular culture, notably in Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' and the 'Tekken' games.

The costume was one of 14 pieces of Bruce Lee’s personal possessions and film props that went under the hammer, fetching a final total of almost £160,000 - double that estimated.

The suit was purchased by an anonymous online bidder who also snapped up five other items.

Wooden nunchuks used by Mr Lee in Game of Death’s main fight scene were bought by Brit George Philips, an investment manager, for £42500. A bamboo whip, also from the film, sold for £7500.

Many of the pieces were from one collector who had purchased them from Taky Kimura, a former student of Mr Lee and his friend and prop creator, George Lee, both of who had been given the items by the actor.

The rest came from members of Mr Lee’s family, who provided signed certificates of authenticity for all the lots.

A jade pendant Mr Lee had created by a jeweler but never saw, came from his brother, Robert Lee, who collected and paid for the necklace after his death. It sold for £12,000.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in