In brief
A wooden sled named Rosebud, significant to the film Citizen Kane, has sold for a staggering $14.75 million. This prop, vital to the film's narrative, was saved by director Joe Dante in 1984, long after it was thought lost. Having emerged from years of obscurity, the sled has now become one of the most valuable pieces of Hollywood memorabilia.
The Rosebud sled, one of at least three that are known to still exist, was previously in the possession of director Joe Dante, who utilized it as an Easter egg in his films, including Gremlins 2: The New Batch. The sale, conducted by Heritage Auctions, marks the sled as the second most expensive piece of film memorabilia sold, following a pair of ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz that garnered $32 million in December of last year.Dante, who discovered the sled while working on a film set at the former RKO studio, was thrilled to save it from oblivion. "As a huge fan of the movie, I was more than happy to take it," he recounted. The sled's name, Rosebud, serves as a pivotal plot element, making it a symbol of the deeper themes embodied in the film's storyline.The anonymous buyer of the sled joins the ranks of collectors who recognize the cultural significance of props that shaped cinematic history. This sale is a testament to the enduring legacy of Citizen Kane, often hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, with the Rosebud sled at its core.
