{"id":2000132024,"date":"2026-11-11T17:33:54","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T15:33:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000132024"},"modified":"2026-11-11T17:34:02","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T15:34:02","slug":"10-ancient-artefacts-that-commanded-millions-of-dollars-at-auction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/10-ancient-artefacts-that-commanded-millions-of-dollars-at-auction\/","title":{"rendered":"10 ancient artefacts that commanded millions of dollars at auction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Across the world\u2019s major auction houses, ancient artefacts have attracted extraordinary bids. From a tiny Mesopotamian sculpture to elaborate Chinese bronze vessels and monumental Roman and Assyrian works, these objects have changed hands for prices that reflect their rarity, craftsmanship and historical importance, but their value goes beyond the figures announced in auction rooms. Each carries a story about the people who created it, the societies they lived in and the beliefs and traditions that shaped their world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are ten remarkable ancient artefacts that have commanded millions of dollars at public auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. The Guennol Lioness \u2013 $57.16 million<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    At just 8.3 centimetres tall, the Guennol Lioness demonstrates that an object\u2019s value is not necessarily determined by its size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Carved from limestone around 3000\u20132800 BC in ancient Mesopotamia, the small sculpture depicts a powerful lioness-like figure with a muscular, almost human body. Its unusual form and refined details have made it one of the most celebrated surviving sculptures from the ancient world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    The 5,000-year-old Guennol Lioness, a Mesopotamian limestone sculpture that sold for $57.16 million at Sotheby’s in 2007.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    When it appeared at Sotheby\u2019s in New York on December 5, 2007, it sold for $57.16 million. The sale established an auction record for an antiquity, making the sculpture one of the most expensive ancient objects ever sold publicly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Shang Dynasty Bronze Fang zun \u2013 $37.21 million<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Thousands of years ago, bronze vessels played an important role in the ceremonial and religious life of China\u2019s ruling elite. The Shang Dynasty Bronze Fangzun is a striking example of that tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      An elaborately decorated bronze ritual vessel from China’s Shang Dynasty, sold for $37.21 million in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Created during the late Shang Dynasty, between the 13th and 10th centuries BC, the large square vessel was used for ritual wine. Its surface features intricate animal masks and geometric patterns, demonstrating the advanced metalworking skills of ancient Chinese craftsmen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The vessel attracted international attention when it appeared at Christie\u2019s New York in March 2017 as part of the Fujita Museum collection. It sold for $37.21 million, setting a world auction record for an archaic Chinese bronze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Marble Torso of a Roman Emperor \u2013 $34.3 million<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Even without a head or limbs, this Roman sculpture commanded an extraordinary price. The marble torso, believed to represent a Julio-Claudian emperor, dates to the first half of the first century AD. Its detailed military armour offers a glimpse into how Roman rulers used sculpture to communicate authority, strength and political power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \"\"
        A Roman imperial marble torso dating to the first century AD, which fetched $34.3 million at Sotheby’s in October 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        Believed to have originated in the ancient city of Salona, in present-day Croatia, the sculpture attracted intense interest when it went under the hammer at Sotheby\u2019s New York on October 21, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        After a 14-minute bidding contest, it sold for $34.3 million, setting a new auction record for a Roman antiquity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        1. Shang Dynasty Bronze Fanglei \u2013 $33.85 million<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Another exceptional survivor from ancient China, the Shang Dynasty Bronze Fanglei demonstrates the technical mastery of bronze casting during the late Shang period. The large ritual wine vessel, which comes with a matching cover, features elaborate surface decorations and an impressive design. Its creation required considerable technical skill, reflecting the importance of bronze objects in the ceremonial life of ancient Chinese society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \"\"
          A rare Shang Dynasty bronze ritual vessel and cover, sold for $33.85 million at Christie’s in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

          It was among the highlights of the Fujita Museum collection auction at Christie\u2019s New York in March 2017, where it sold for $33.85 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Assyrian Winged Genius Relief \u2013 $30.97 million<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Standing more than two metres tall, this ancient relief once formed part of the magnificent Northwest Palace of Assyrian King Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud, in present-day Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \"\"
            An ancient Assyrian protective spirit carved into a gypsum palace relief from Nimrud, Iraq.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            Created during the king\u2019s reign between 883 and 859 BC, the gypsum panel depicts an apkallu, a winged protective spirit associated with safeguarding the king and his palace. Its detailed carving reflects the religious beliefs and royal imagery of the Assyrian Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            After surviving for nearly three millennia, the relief appeared at Christie\u2019s New York on October 31, 2018, selling for $30.97 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            The sale also drew attention to wider debates surrounding the ownership, movement and preservation of cultural heritage removed from archaeological sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            1. Artemis and the Stag \u2013 $28.6 million<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              A goddess, a stag and remarkable bronze craftsmanship come together in this sculpture of Artemis, the Greek goddess of hunting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Dating to approximately the first century BC or first century AD, the work depicts Artemis alongside a stag. Its scale, intricate casting and classical subject make it an exceptional example of ancient bronze sculpture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \"\"
              An ancient bronze sculpture depicting Artemis, the goddess of hunting, alongside a stag. It sold for $28.6 million in 2007.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

              The piece was sold at Sotheby\u2019s New York in June 2007 for $28.6 million, attracting considerable attention from collectors interested in the surviving artistic achievements of the ancient world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              1. The Xi Jia Pan Bronze Basin \u2013 Approximately $27.3 million<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                Unlike many ancient vessels valued mainly for their appearance, the Xi Jia Pan Bronze Basin carries something particularly important, a historical record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Dating to China\u2019s Western Zhou Dynasty, which lasted from approximately 1046 to 771 BC, the basin features a lengthy inscription containing valuable information about the political and social life of the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \"\"
                A Western Zhou Dynasty bronze basin bearing a lengthy historical inscription, sold for approximately $27.3 million in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                The inscription is especially significant to historians because it provides information that helps fill gaps in the historical record of the dynasty.
                The basin was sold at a Xiling Yinshe auction in China\u2019s Zhejiang Province in July 2017 for 185 million yuan, equivalent to approximately $27.3 million at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                1. Shang Dynasty Bronze Pou \u2013 $27.13 million<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                  Another remarkable object from the late Shang Dynasty, the Bronze Pou was created as a ceremonial wine vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  Its elaborate decoration and rarity reflect the importance attached to bronze craftsmanship in ancient Chinese society, where vessels played a central role in rituals and elite ceremonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \"\"
                  A rare ceremonial bronze vessel from China’s late Shang Dynasty, which sold for $27.13 million in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                  The object was among the valuable pieces offered from the Fujita Museum collection at Christie\u2019s New York in March 2017. It achieved $27.13 million, placing it among the most expensive ancient Chinese bronze vessels sold at auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \n
                  1. Shang Dynasty Ram-Form Bronze Gong \u2013 $27.13 million<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                    Not all ancient ceremonial vessels followed conventional shapes. This bronze gong, designed in the form of a ram, demonstrates the creativity and technical ability of Shang Dynasty metalworkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    \"\"
                    A distinctive ram-shaped bronze ceremonial vessel that fetched $27.13 million at Christie’s in 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                    Dating to the late Shang period, the vessel combines an animal-inspired form with intricate bronze decoration. Its distinctive appearance makes it stand out among the ceremonial objects produced during the era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                    It was also sold at Christie\u2019s New York in March 2017 as part of the Fujita Museum collection auction, achieving $27.13 million \u2014 the same price as the Bronze Pou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \n
                    1. The Statue of Sekhemka \u2013 $27 million<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                      More than 4,000 years after it was carved, this Egyptian statue became the centre of a major controversy when it was sold at auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      Dating to approximately 2400\u20132300 BC, during Egypt\u2019s Old Kingdom, the limestone sculpture depicts Sekhemka, an official identified in the inscription on its base as an inspector of the scribes of the royal court. He is shown seated and holding a scroll, while detailed carvings around the statue provide insight into ancient Egyptian beliefs about status and the afterlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      \"\"
                      An Old Kingdom Egyptian limestone statue depicting the official Sekhemka, sold for \u00a315.76 million in London in 2014.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                      The statue was sold at Christie\u2019s London in July 2014 for \u00a315.76 million, approximately $27 million at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      However, the sale attracted widespread criticism in the United Kingdom because the sculpture had belonged to the public collection of Northampton Museum. Its departure raised difficult questions about whether important cultural treasures should be sold into private ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                      <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                      Imagine holding an object created more than 5,000 years ago \u2014 something that has survived the rise and fall of empires, the disappearance of ancient civilisations and centuries of change. For some collectors, owning such a piece of history is worth tens of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000132035,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"archived_slugs":[],"footnotes":"","igh_game_id":0},"categories":[12],"tags":[151],"byline":[3260],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000132024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","tag-editors-choice","byline-tumalo-noel-zakaria"],"bylines":[{"id":3260,"name":"Tumalo Noel Zakaria","slug":"tumalo-noel-zakaria","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null,"twitter_handle":""}],"contributors":[{"id":3260,"name":"Tumalo Noel Zakaria","slug":"tumalo-noel-zakaria","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null,"twitter_handle":""}],"featured_image":{"id":2000132035,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/11\/MixCollage-11-Nov-2026-05-33-PM-2217.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/11\/MixCollage-11-Nov-2026-05-33-PM-2217-150x150.jpg","width":150,"height":150},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/11\/MixCollage-11-Nov-2026-05-33-PM-2217-300x225.jpg","width":300,"height":225},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/11\/MixCollage-11-Nov-2026-05-33-PM-2217-768x576.jpg","width":768,"height":576},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/11\/MixCollage-11-Nov-2026-05-33-PM-2217.jpg","width":800,"height":600},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/11\/MixCollage-11-Nov-2026-05-33-PM-2217.jpg","width":800,"height":600}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000132024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000132024"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000132024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000132036,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000132024\/revisions\/2000132036"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000132035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000132024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000132024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000132024"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000132024"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000132024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}