Most Expensive Auction Items Ever Sold as of 2023
Most Expensive Auction Items Ever Sold as of 2023
Have you ever wondered “Most expensive item at auction”, “What was the most expensive item ever sold at auction”, or “What was the most expensive item sold at auction”? Or, more specific questions like “What works of art are the most expensive to sell”, “What are the most expensive historical items”, and “What are the most expensive antiques”?
Auctions tend to attract a wide variety of bidders and buyers, both in person and over the phone, because of the wide variety of rare and glamorous items on sale.
SUBWAY DRESS” MARILYN MONROE
Perhaps one of the most famous items of clothing of the 20th century, and one of the most expensive auction items ever sold, this ivory pleated dress was designed by William Travilla in 1955 for Marilyn to wear in the film “The Seven Year Itch” directed by Billy Wilder.
Almost as iconic as the wearer herself, this dress recreates the image of Marilyn Monroe standing over the subway bars, trying to use her skirt to cover herself up. This famous footage has been used on thousands of ‘retro’ themed items, ranging from clothing to household goods. However, to own the original, was something else entirely.
BRITISH GUYANA MAGENTA ONE CENT STAMP
If our list of most expensive auction items & items we own were measured by price per square inch, this item would definitely be at the top of the list.
Weighing 0.04 gram, the British Guiana One Cent Magenta stamp once sold for a penny when it was first printed, in 1856. The rarest stamp in the world, this stamp is one of the collector’s items owned by names like Count Philippe la Renotiere von Ferrary, Arthur Hind, and John E. du Pont.
SILVER DOLLARS HAIR FLOWING
First minted in 1794, the Flowing Hair silver dollar is the first dollar coin ever issued by the United States.
This coin was minted in silver, following the founding of the national Mint by Alexander Hamilton. Today, this coin is extremely rare, with very few surviving from that era, which explains why it is one of the most expensive antique auction items in 2023.
In 2013, the more than 200-year-old coin more than doubled the previous world record, which was $4.1 million for a coin sold at auction, according to Stack’s Bowers Galleries.
CYCLADIC MARBLE FIGURE
Christie’s Antiques Department topped the world auction price record in 2015 when it facilitated the sale of one of the most expensive auction items worldwide that year, a Cycladic marble bust. A reclining female figure carved in marble, this sensational statue is over 3000 years old, dating from around 2400 BC.
PATEK PHILIPPE HENRY GRAVES SUPER COMPLEX WATCH
Ordered by billionaire Henry Graves Jr., this painstakingly crafted 18-karat gold watch took eight years to make.
Previously sold at auction in 1999 for $11,000,000, this watch was bought by Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani of the Qatari royal family, who then sold it back to the auction house 15 years later.
FAUTEUIL AUX DRAGONS BY EILEEN GRAY
This leather chair was formerly owned by Yves Saint Laurent, and designed by Irish artist, Eileen Gray. Originally made in white, the chair is now covered in brown leather.
Standing only 24 inches tall, this quirky French creation is known as the ‘dragon’ armchair, for its ornately carved armrests. Gray, who studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, spent two years making this thing, from 1917 to 1919 and don’t forget to check out our site for more interesting information by Visit the lake forest antique sale