Bombshells to Blasters, An Auction You Can't Refuse Pt. 1

First Time To Auction

MGM, 1939. The Wizard of Oz is a bona fide multi-generational classic, adoringly shared and passed on from generation to generation. In light of today's features that manufacture spectacle through a keyboard and computer monitor, it's fascinating to consider the quality of design and practical craft that contributed to making Oz one of the earliest and most visually stunning fantasy films of its century . The visual FX, with their innovation and practical magic, still stand up to today's finest. Among the most iconic, instantly recognizable props or artifacts surviving this legendary production are "Dorothy's" (Judy Garland) ruby slippers, "The Wicked Witch's" (Margaret Hamilton) witch's hats, and of course, "Glinda" (Burke) the good witch's sparkly magic wand constructed of a long, tooled aluminum, tapered shaft with finial cap at the bottom and crowned by a bejeweled, five-pointed star encrusted with faceted clear crystals in gold metal-prong settings. Prices realized in previous sales of Oz artifacts include $1.56 million for a "Dorothy" signature dress, $3.1 million for a "Cowardly Lion" (Burt Lahr) costume, $1.28 million for a handwritten first-draft copy of the screenplay, and $200,000 for a hat worn by "the Wicked Witch of the West." As Dorothy (and her pal Toto) emerge from her severely displaced Kansas home, stepping into the "Merry Old Land" of Oz, she encounters a community of little people, "Munchkins," right before Glinda materializes in the first truly magical event of the film. Glinda appears all aglow in her starry tulle gown, jeweled butterfly choker , ethereal crown, and her signature accessory, the long magic wand with its dazzling star. While the wand was determined to be most effective as a multi-color jeweled prop to "pop" when set against the vibrant Technicolor landscape of Oz, the wand offered here was one of two known clear crystal test wands that contributed to the evolution of the final screen used example. Just as the ruby slippers were once silver, the wand was changed for effect. And as is the case for most movies made to this day, multiples of each prop were created for production. While not used in the resulting film, one of the clear crystal wands was used in a commissioned "Glinda" photo by the legendary Hollywood photographer Clarence Sinclair Bull. This historical prop exhibits expected patina on the metal components from age, some oxidation in areas, and the star is missing a negligible amount of crystals, but with the star base intact should the lucky bidder care to they could sensitively restore the piece with a dozen or so replacement crystals. The wand measures 53.25 in. long with its widest point being the crowning star, which measures 3 x 3 in. from point to point. For a title that's been endlessly seen, scrutinized, studied, and celebrated, it's always thrilling to find that an artifact that played such an integral part of production still exists and is available to the collector or institution that hopes to preserve and share it with an ever- appreciative, Oz -loving public. In vintage production used very good condition. Accompanied by a report of authenticity from celebrated Hollywood historian Marc Wanamaker.