BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — A whip used by Harrison Ford in the iconic film “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” has fetched an impressive $525,000 at auction. The auction was held by Heritage Auctions on Thursday, coinciding with a remarkable sale of the Rosebud sled from “Citizen Kane,” which sold for a staggering $14.75 million, making it one of the most expensive movie props ever auctioned.
The whip, which played a significant role during the Holy Grail trials in the film's climax, was originally gifted to then-Prince Charles at the film’s U.K. premiere. Subsequently, it was passed on to Princess Diana, who in turn gifted it to its current owner, whose identity has not been disclosed. Joe Maddalena, the executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, highlighted the whip as "the iconic symbol of an iconic character of cinema history, Indiana Jones," emphasizing its significance in the auction.
The auction is part of Heritage's Summer Entertainment Auction, notable for being one of the highest-grossing entertainment auctions in history, with a total revenue that has put it in the second position all-time. With a day remaining in the auction, several other highly sought-after items are slated to go up for bid. These items include Macaulay Culkin’s knit snow cap from the festive classic “Home Alone,” a revolver wielded by Kurt Russell in “Wyatt Earp,” a pair of “Hattori Hanzo” prop swords from Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” and a first edition set of Harry Potter novels signed by J.K. Rowling.
The record-breaking $14.75 million sale of the Rosebud sled has marked it as a significant highlight in auction history, surpassing all but one previous sale—the $32.5 million garnered by Judy Garland's ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” which sold in December. Both the buyer of the Rosebud sled and the ruby slippers have remained anonymous.
The sled is especially noteworthy for its importance in cinematic history; it is one of three known surviving props from Orson Welles’ acclaimed 1941 film “Citizen Kane.” The word “Rosebud” is famously the last word spoken by the title character and has been the subject of extensive analysis and discussion, as it drives the film’s poignant plot. Joe Dante, who sold the sled, is a recognized director known for films like “Gremlins.” He fortuitously discovered the sled during filming on the former RKO Pictures lot in 1984. Although not a collector, Dante understood its historical and monetary value and maintained its condition for decades, even incorporating it as an Easter egg in four of his own films.
In a related note, Dante revealed that his friend and mentor, Steven Spielberg, had previously paid $60,500 for another Rosebud sled in 1982. Another anonymous buyer had acquired the third known sled for $233,000 in 1996. The ongoing Summer Entertainment Auction promises to continue with thrilling offers, adding to the remarkable intersection of culture, history, and the film industry.
