Joan Fontaine's Oscar trophy to be auctioned

Joan Fontaine's best actress Oscar trophy that she won for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's 1941 movie 'Suspicion' is slated to go under the hammer later this year.

Fontaine, who died last year at the age of 96, became the only actress to ever win an Oscar for a Hitchcock movie. She was also nominated for best actress for her role in another Hitchcock movie 'Rebecca'.

The sale of Oscar statuette is very rare because starting from 1950, the Academy has barred the winners, their estates or heirs from selling the trophy before first offering it to the Academy for USD 1.

The Oscar trophy is estimated to fetch between USD 200,000 and USD 300,000, reported Ace Showbiz. Apart from the Oscar trophy, other memorabilia such as Fontaine's paintings, furniture and jewellery will also get auctioned by Christie's.

Among the items, Russian artist Marc Chagall's painting 'Vase of Flowers in the Window' will be sold in an auction in New York on November 6. It is expected to bring USD 400,000-USD 600,000.

Proceeds from the auctions will go to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for Monterey County in Northern California.