The auction brought immense interest, with this relic from Citizen Kane highlighting the cultural significance of cinematic memorabilia.
**Iconic Rosebud Sled from Citizen Kane Fetches Nearly $15 Million at Auction**

**Iconic Rosebud Sled from Citizen Kane Fetches Nearly $15 Million at Auction**
A legendary piece of cinema history, the Rosebud sled, has been sold, reinforcing its status.
The wooden sled, famously known as Rosebud, sold for an impressive $14.75 million (£11 million) at auction, marking it as one of the most valuable pieces of film memorabilia in history. This particular sled, believed to be one of only three surviving from the classic film Citizen Kane, was almost lost to time until it was rescued by director Joe Dante in 1984. Dante, who later incorporated the sled as an Easter egg in films like Gremlins 2: The New Batch, recognized its critical role in cinematic lore.
The uniqueness of the Rosebud sled placed it as the second most expensive piece of film memorabilia ever auctioned, just behind the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, which went for $32 million (£23.9 million) last December. Joe Maddalena from Heritage Auctions illuminated the significance of the sled by stating, "Along with Dorothy's ruby slippers, the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane is one of the most iconic objects in Hollywood history."
The buyer of the sled has not been disclosed, adding an air of mystery to its future. Earlier versions of the sled have surfaced in the past, including one that was purchased by renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who subsequently donated it to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The sled recently sold had eluded public sight for several years, as it lay dormant in a storeroom on the former RKO Radio Pictures lot, where Citizen Kane was originally produced.
Dante, reflecting on the sled's significance, noted, "Citizen Kane may be the greatest film ever made, and Rosebud is the linchpin of the story – the whole heart of the plot and the focal point of the mysterious drama in Kane's life. As a director, to own the prop that represents such a vital element of a cinema treasure is particularly meaningful."
The uniqueness of the Rosebud sled placed it as the second most expensive piece of film memorabilia ever auctioned, just behind the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, which went for $32 million (£23.9 million) last December. Joe Maddalena from Heritage Auctions illuminated the significance of the sled by stating, "Along with Dorothy's ruby slippers, the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane is one of the most iconic objects in Hollywood history."
The buyer of the sled has not been disclosed, adding an air of mystery to its future. Earlier versions of the sled have surfaced in the past, including one that was purchased by renowned filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who subsequently donated it to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The sled recently sold had eluded public sight for several years, as it lay dormant in a storeroom on the former RKO Radio Pictures lot, where Citizen Kane was originally produced.
Dante, reflecting on the sled's significance, noted, "Citizen Kane may be the greatest film ever made, and Rosebud is the linchpin of the story – the whole heart of the plot and the focal point of the mysterious drama in Kane's life. As a director, to own the prop that represents such a vital element of a cinema treasure is particularly meaningful."