A whip used by Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” which originally belonged to Princess Diana, has been auctioned off for $525,000.
This sale took place on Thursday, following the astounding auction of a Rosebud sled from “Citizen Kane” that fetched $14.75 million, making it one of the costliest props ever sold.
These items were featured in a summer auction hosted by Heritage Auctions that has been ongoing all week.
Heritage noted that this auction is likely to record the second-highest total revenue for such events, even with one day still left.
Other notable items up for bid included a first edition of the Harry Potter book signed by JK Rowling, a prop sword from “Kill Bill Vol. 1,” a knitted snow cap worn by Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone,” the Cartlous Revolver from “Wyatt Earp,” and the Hatrihanzo.
The whip auctioned was notably used during the Holy Grail Trial scene in the climax of “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” released in 1989.
Ford originally presented the whip to Charles at the British premiere of the film. It was subsequently gifted to Princess Diana, who later passed it on to its current owner.
As of now, the identity of the buyer remains undisclosed.
“The Bullwhip is a symbol of Indiana Jones’ legendary character and a highlight of this auction,” said Joe Madarena, executive vice president of Heritage, in a statement.
The final auction price of $525,000 includes a “buyer premium” customary for these transactions.
Heritage indicated that the nearly $15 million bid for the Rosebud sled marks the second instance where a prop from the auction has surpassed significant milestones, following Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” which were sold for $32.5 million. Again, the buyers for both items remain anonymous.
The sled’s previous owner, Joe Dante—known for directing movies like “Gremlins”—had kept the sled since 1984 after discovering it while filming on a former RKO Pictures lot.
The term “Rosebud” is famously known as the last word spoken by the protagonist in Orson Welles’ 1941 film “Citizen Kane,” with its significance providing a crucial plot element.
This film has often been hailed by critics as one of the greatest ever made.
For decades, Dante preserved the sled, aware of its value, even including it as an Easter egg in several of his own films.
A friend of Dante, Steven Spielberg, had previously purchased another sled for $60,500 in 1982, while an anonymous buyer acquired yet another for $233,000 in 1996.
