“We’re a little disappointed with what happened….”-Gregg K. Dietrich, Bonhams Maritime Art Department, New York City

23 February 2013/12 Raby’ ath-Thani 1434/05 Esfand 1391

The auction for a cast stone version of the 1945 statue of the famous (supposedly famous) USMC flag raising over Iwo Jima (aka Loto), ended in failure.

Only three people bid on the 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) tall historical statue, and the bids were less then what was expected (auctioneers were trying for a minimum of $1.8 million USD).

Felix de Weldon made the original 32 feet (9.7 meters) tall bronze statue, as well as the smaller stone cast statue. The smaller statue had been hidden away by Weldon for about four decades, before the current owner found it.

The owner is still hoping someone will buy it, because “…it doesn’t fit in my living room.”