Wicked Witch’s hat from The Wizard of Oz to go up for auction
The wool hat will be sold alongside Dorothy’s ruby slippers and a signed Wizard of Oz book at a major memorabilia sale in Dallas next month
Just in time for the cinema release of Wicked: For Good, fans will get a chance to own memorabilia from the 1939 original film, The Wizard of Oz – and one item is especially witchy.
Heritage Auctions is putting an iconic black hat that Margaret Hamilton wore as the Wicked Witch of the West up for sale.
The wool hat, designed by costume designer Adrian Adolph Greenburg who went by Gilbert Adrian professionally, was put to use after filming began because the one originally chosen did not appear scary enough.
“When Dorothy Gale becomes Dorothy of Oz, it’s when she puts on the ruby slippers,” said Joe Maddalena, executive vice-president of Heritage Auctions.
“When the Wicked Witch becomes the Wicked Witch, she puts on the hat. So it’s this transformational moment of the birth of the witch. I think the importance of the hat is just incredible. It’s on par with the slippers.”
Heritage will hold the auction on December 9 and 10, both online and at its Dallas, Texas headquarters.