The 5 most expensive items ever sold at auction
Auctions captivate the imagination of collectors and enthusiasts alike, offering a unique platform where rare and valuable items can change hands for astonishing sums.
The auction block has seen some extraordinary sales from masterpieces of art to historical artefacts.
These record-breaking sales highlight these items' immense worth and story as well as reflect the lasting prestige of owning a piece of history.
Here are the five most expensive items ever sold at auction according to the Times of India:
Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi ($450.3 Million)
In November 2017, Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi was sold at Christie’s in New York for an astonishing $450.3 million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. This masterpiece, showing Christ as the Savior of the World, is one of fewer than 20 known paintings by da Vinci.
Marie Antoinette’s Pearl Pendant ($36 Million)
Marie Antoinette’s Pearl Pendant was auctioned by Sotheby’s Geneva in November 2018 for $36 million. This exquisite pendant belonged to the French queen and featured a large teardrop pearl beneath a diamond bow. Its dramatic history of being smuggled out of revolutionary France significantly contributed to its high value.
The Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci ($30.8 million )
The Codex Leicester, a collection of scientific writings by Leonardo da Vinci, was purchased by Bill Gates for $30.8 million at Christie’s in November 1994. This manuscript, which covers topics from astronomy to the properties of water, is the most expensive book ever sold at auction. It offers a rare glimpse into the mind of the genius.
Roman-era Statue “Artemis and the Stag” ($28.6 Million)
“Artemis and the Stag,” a bronze sculpture from the early Roman Imperial or Hellenistic period, was sold for $28.6 million at Sotheby’s New York in June 2007. This statue, depicting the Greek goddess of hunting alongside a stag, became the most valuable sculpture ever sold at auction at that time. Its sale raised questions about the deaccessioning practices of museums, as it was sold by the Albright-Knox Art Gallery to secure funds for future acquisitions.
Marilyn Monroe’s “Subway Dress” ($5.6 Million)
Marilyn Monroe’s iconic “Subway Dress” from the film The Seven Year Itch was sold for $5.6 million at an auction in Beverly Hills in June 2011. Designed by William Travilla, the dress is famous for the scene where Monroe stands over a subway grate, and the dress billows up. This piece of Hollywood history fetched a high price due to its cultural significance and Monroe’s legacy.
