The world of antiques and collectables is an unusual and somewhat exciting place. It is about finding things that you are interested in and building a collection that is a testament to it. There are so many things that can be collected, some more common than others. However, some of these pieces can be incredibly rare and incredibly old, pushing up the price tag as a result.
The truth is, when it comes to antiques, you will be surprised by what is valuable and what is. So to give you an idea of what we are talking about when we say this, we will be sharing some of the world’s most valuable antiques – that we know of.
Ru Guanyao Brush Washer Bowl
This small bowl may not look like much, but this simple, 900-year-old porcelain brush washer broke records when it went to auction. It comes in at 5.125 inches and was listed in the auction catalogue as “highly important and extremely rare”. It is rare because the kiln it was made in only functioned for two decades. When it went to auction at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, a 20-minute bidding war ensued before it finally ended at $37.68 million.
William Andrews Clark’s Sickle-leaf rug
Before this rug went to auction, the value was estimated to be between $5 and $7 million. It exceeded this value. The rug formed part of William Andrews Clark estate auction back in 2013 and was sold for an impressive $33.76 million.
Henry Graves Jr. Supercomplication
This pocket watch was made by Patek Philippe and is incredibly rare. Legend has it that it was named after a banker in New York that challenged James Ward Packard to a competition to see who could have the most complicated and elaborate watch made. What makes this piece is that it has previously broken a record in 1999 by becoming the most valuable timepiece at $11 million. It then went on to break its record in 2014 after being sold for $24 million.
Cartier La Peregrina Pearl Necklace
This necklace used to belong to Elizabeth Taylor, which makes it a unique piece. It was also created by Cartier who specialises in making some of the world’s finest jewellery. If that doesn’t have you in awe, the fact that Richard Burton bought it for her might. The necklace ended up selling for $11,842,500.
1931 Dracula Movie Poster
This poster is the most expensive poster to have ever been sold at an auction. It is one of two in existence and was sold for $525,800 in 2017.
Antique Doll by Rochard
This French doll was created by Antoine Edmund Rochard and broke a record when it sold for $333,500. The doll has a beautifully painted, yet elaborative breastplate. It also features 24 jewels that are micro-photographs of historic scenes in France.
Some of the items featured may seem like an obvious selection in terms of valuable antiques, such as Elisabeth Taylor’s necklace. Items such as the Dracula poster may not and is a great example of how uncommon things can be incredibly valuable.
