Iconic "Rosebud" Sled from Citizen Kane Fetches $14.75 Million at Auction

The Rosebud sled, an iconic prop from the 1941 film Citizen Kane, has been sold at auction for $14.75 million. This monumental sale highlights the sled's significant cultural value and its connection to the film's legacy.

One of the surviving Rosebud sleds, pivotal to the opening scene of the legendary film Citizen Kane, was sold at a recent auction for an astounding $14.75 million (£11 million). This wooden sled, thought to have been lost to time, gained new life after being given to director Joe Dante in 1984, effectively saving it from potential destruction. Dante later included the sled as an Easter egg in his own films, further embedding it in the culture of cinema.

This latest sale positions the sled as the second most expensive piece of movie memorabilia sold to date, following the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz which went for a staggering $32 million (£23.9 million) in December. According to Joe Maddalena, executive vice president at Heritage Auctions, which conducted the sale, the Rosebud sled and Dorothy's ruby slippers are two of Hollywood's most iconic artifacts. The identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.

The significance of the name "Rosebud" is intertwined with the plot of Citizen Kane, a film released in 1941 that is often hailed as one of the greatest ever made. Other sleds from the film have changed hands in the past, including one that entered the collection of renowned director Steven Spielberg, who later donated it to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

Dante shared that he stumbled upon the sled while working on the film Explorers in 1984, at a studio previously owned by RKO Radio Pictures, the same studio responsible for producing Citizen Kane. A worker aware of Dante's passion for vintage films offered him the sled as crews were clearing storage areas. "I was astonished," Dante recounted, "Since I am a huge fan of the movie, I said, 'Yeah, I'll be glad to take it.'"

For Dante, owning a prop that embodies such a crucial aspect of cinema history is a deeply meaningful experience. He reflected on the impact of Citizen Kane, remarking that the sled represents "the whole heart of the plot and the focal point of the mysterious drama in Kane's life." As memorabilia continues to draw immense interest and prices in the auction world, the Rosebud sled stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of classic films.