Attention pretty girls, it looks like the iconic hourglass of the Wicked Witch of the West has found a new home.
Signature Wizard of Oz prop recently sold for $495,000. Heritage Auctions, an organization known for auctioning collectibles, has described it as “the most famous and recognizable watch in cinematic history”.
The piece plays a central role in the film, in which the Wicked Witch threatens Dorothy, saying with the hourglass in her hand, “You see? It’s about time you’re alive! And it’s not long, my beauty! it’s not long! I can’t wait to get those shoes!”
Throughout the scene, the camera zooms in on the hourglass and shows Dorothy’s friends, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, running out of time to save her from the Wicked Witch.
Wizard of Oz
Courtesy of Everett Collection
While many versions of the hourglass have been created for the film, the one that goes on sale on December 17 is made of wood and mache. It is used in the climactic scene where the Witch holds it over her head against Dorothy and her friends as they attempt to escape.
According to Heritage Auctions, the hourglass’s Gothic frame was crafted by the studio’s artisans, who included winged gargoyles atop its spiral columns. This goblet is also hand blown and then filled with red light for display purposes, as the glitter doesn’t fit in the narrow antique.
Later Wizard of Oz, it has been used in other movies besides Wizard of OzPrefer Babes on stage (1941)diane (1956), and 7 Faces of Old Doctor (1964).
