There are many iconic artifacts from movie sets, but some might say the most iconic artifact is the ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz.
There are four known pairs. One is in the Smithsonian, and another pair was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2005 by ex-mobster Terry Martin. They were recovered 15 years later and went out on public auction this month for the first time.
On December 7th, the shoes sold for $28 million ($32.5 million with the commission that the buyer pays), $25 million more than Heritage Auctions was expecting them to go for.
Heritage Auctions says: “The Ruby Slippers are a vintage pair of Innes Shoe Co. red silk faille heels with uppers and heels covered with hand-sequined silk georgette, lined in white leather, and the leather soles are painted red with orange felt adhered to the front foundation of each shoe. The bows are made of hand-cut buckram cloth and are slightly different in size. Rhinestones rim the bows, which are filled with bugle beads surrounding three center jewels. The left shoe has a slightly thicker, shorter heel with a Cat’s Paw rubber top lift cap. The right shoe has a slightly taller, thinner heel with a leather top lift cap. Both lift caps are painted red.”
The auction house did not say who bought them. However, whoever did is a very lucky person! I hope they share them with the world and don’t keep them to themselves.
