**The sled, pivotal to the film's narrative, is one of the few surviving pieces of memorabilia that showcases Hollywood's rich cinematic legacy.**
**Citizen Kane’s Iconic Rosebud Sled Auctioned for Nearly $15 Million**
**Citizen Kane’s Iconic Rosebud Sled Auctioned for Nearly $15 Million**
**A cherished piece of film history, the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane finds a new owner at an astounding price.**
A prized artifact from the classic film Citizen Kane, the Rosebud sled, has fetched an impressive $14.75 million at auction, highlighting its iconic status in cinema. One of the remaining few, this wooden sled that plays a significant role in the film's opening sequence was believed to be lost before it was rescued by director Joe Dante in 1984. Dante had acquired it while working on the film Explorers at the historic RKO Studios, where Citizen Kane was produced.
He utilized the sled as a nostalgic nod for fans in films such as Gremlins 2, which added layers to its historical significance. This auction makes the Rosebud sled the second most expensive piece of movie memorabilia ever sold, trailing just behind the famed ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, which went for $32 million last December. Joe Maddalena from Heritage Auctions emphasized that this sled, alongside Dorothy's shoes, represents two of the most iconic items in Hollywood's history. While the identity of the latest buyer remains undisclosed, the sale reiterates the enduring legacy and fascination surrounding Orson Welles' cinematic masterpiece released in 1941.
Other sleds from the film have found new homes over the years, with one previously owned by celebrated director Steven Spielberg, who later donated his to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Dante’s emotional connection to the Rosebud sled speaks volumes about its significance, as he aptly noted its representation of a central element in a film often regarded as the greatest ever made.
