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The world's most expensive antiques ever auctioned

The hobby of collecting antiques seems to have been labeled as a hobby for the rich. Many billionaires in the world have built collections worth millions of dollars to satisfy their love of antiques. The world's most expensive antiques ever auctioned Leicester manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci. Photo: Italian Museum Collecting is a sophisticated and expensive hobby. In the world today, there are countless valuable collections from stamps, gemstones to vehicles, airplanes that make many people dream of seeing them in person. Among the hobbies of collecting, antiques are probably the most expensive and valuable hobby. Not only spending millions, even tens of millions of dollars to buy an antique, collectors also have to spend a lot of effort to research, classify and auction. In this article, let's take a look at the most valuable antiques ever auctioned to see the investment and expense of this hobby.

1. Qing Dynasty ceramic vase: $80.2 million

The most expensive antique ever sold, this vase was made in the 18th century, around 1740. Its intricate, clear and harmonious patterns were hailed as the pinnacle of ceramic art. The royal seal stamp indicates that it was made during the reign of Emperor Qianlong.

An explorer bought it while visiting China, brought it back to England, and then sold it. It was initially valued at only $1,000 because it was suspected to be a fake, but after it was verified as “genuine”, its value immediately jumped to $1 million. This stunning Chinese vase was eventually sold at auction for $80.2 million.
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2. Leonardo da Vinci's Leicester manuscript: $30.8 million

This is a notebook containing DaVinci’s inventions written upside down over 72 pages, along with many drafts and sketches, theories on geology, fossils and astronomy. It was sold to the Earl of Leicester in 1717 and is therefore known as the Leicester Manuscript.

In 1994, billionaire Bill Gates won an auction and owned the Leicester Manuscript. Instead of keeping it for himself, he scanned each page to publish it online and often took the notebook to exhibitions around the world.
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3. Badminton Cabinet: $28.8 million

This antique was crafted in Florence by 30 craftsmen over six years. It was previously sold to the Prince of Liechtenstein, but is now on display in the Liechtenstein Museum for visitors. Its estimated value is $28.8 million.
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4. Olyphant Horn: $16.1 million

The horn was made from ivory and dated to around the 11th century, of which there are only six known examples in the world. This antique was made to serve the needs of the nobility when hunting or in war. Its estimated value is around $16.1 million.
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5. Qing Dynasty Glazed Porcelain Vase: $15.1 Million

The vase was made in China in the 18th century. Currently, the Matsuoka Art Museum in Japan has an identical vase. This antique is made of porcelain with extremely eye-catching blue and pink tones. It was last sold in Hong Kong (China) at an auction in 2010 for $15.1 million.
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6. Ming Dynasty Three-Legged Gold Basin: $14.2 Million

There are only eight such basins in the world. This antique is carved with a dragon, has three legs and is inlaid with pearls. It was sold in April 2008 at an auction for $14.2 million.

7. Princess Katherine Henckel's Emerald Tiara: $12.1 Million

This tiara features 11 rare emeralds from Colombia with perfect clarity, weighing a total of 500 carats. German Prince Guido Henckel commissioned the piece for his wife, Princess Katherine Henckel. It later belonged to the wife of French Emperor Napoleon III. The piece was sold at auction in May 2011 for $12.1 million.
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8. Goddard & Townsend Family Antique Writing Desk: $11.4 Million

This is an 18th-century piece of American furniture. It was purchased by Christie's at an auction in New York in 1989 for more than $11.4 million.
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9. French Royal Silver Bowl: $9.7 Million

The bowl was cast by the jeweler Thomas Germain for King Louis XV. From 1723, Germain served only the royal family because of its fashionable Rococo style. The lid is decorated with images of fruits, vegetables, birds, and the handle is shaped like a wild boar's head. As one of the few surviving 18th-century silver bowls, this antique is extremely valuable. It was sold at auction in November 1996 for more than $9.7 million.

10. Napoleon's Sword: $6.4 Million

This is the sword that accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte during his invasion of Egypt. It was later given to Napoleon's brother at his wedding. The sword was sold at an auction in June 2017 in Osenat, France for $6.4 million.
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