Believe it or not, you can buy and sell almost anything at an auction. Although most auction houses and larger one-off auction events have their own niches and industries they typically cater to, each year there’s always a number of auctions that see some pretty incredible items make their way across the block.
Some were wildly expensive, others unique, and some more bizarre than anything. 2018 was another prime example of more than a few very noteworthy sales you don’t really see every day.
Below are some of our favorites that made the news within the last year.
Banksy, the legendary anonymous British street artist, is known for pulling off some newsworthy hijinks from time to time. While his antics are usually reserved for creating stunning conceptual art in public spaces seemingly overnight, 2018 saw him trying out something new: performance art.
Well, sort of. The artist donated one of his most popular pieces to a charity auction in London, which depicted a girl reaching out for a heart-shaped balloon. The art was inside of an elaborate frame, and quickly sold for $1.4 million. However, moments after the sale, the artwork started to slide down toward the bottom of the frame, which contained a hidden paper shredder. As onlookers watched in dismay, the piece went about halfway out of the frame’s bottom, with the exposed portion completely shredded.
The buyer was still pleased, believing the incident actually added value to the art. He’s probably right.
Ever wondered what a million-dollar glass of scotch tastes like? Well, if you know a certain someone in Scotland, you may be in luck.
Known as the holy grail of scotches, this single-malt scotch was crafted over 93 years ago, and was produced under the name of Macallan Valerio Adami, eventually being bottled in 1986 after sitting in a vat for 60 years prior. It’s one of only 12 bottles made, and features handmade artwork from Adami, hence the name.
The $1.1 million price tag beat a previous record set in May — a bottle that sold in Hong Kong for $1 million from the same collection.
Japan is known for having some expensive fish auctions, but they really outdid themselves in 2018. Right before the new year, Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji fish market held an auction that witnessed a coveted bluefin tuna fish get sold for $3 million (333.6 million yen if you’re keeping score.)
The winning bid was made by Kiyoshi Kimura, owner of the popular Zanmai sushi restaurant chain.
The bluefin weighed a massive 612 pounds — enough to supply more than a few tuna rolls at Kimura’s restaurants, we’d guess.
If you’re in the market for some authentic moon rocks, be aware it’s going to set you back a bit.
Three small moon rocks were sold for $855,000 at Sotheby’s New York this past May. The rocks were flown to Earth straight from the source in 1970, aboard the Soviet Luna-16 Mission. The rocks were originally gifted to the widow of the former director of the Soviet space program, but she later sold them in 1993. The rocks remain the first and only piece of another world ever up for public auction.
You may be surprised to hear this, but the dinosaur skeleton market is starting to pick up. For those looking for a nice 150-million-year-old artifact to add to their decor, we advise you consider Aguttes, an auction house that’s become the main player in selling dinosaurs.
The French auction sold an 8.5’ x 30’ fossil of what’s believed to be an Allosaurus, with 70 percent of the skeleton still intact. One lucky buyer threw down a cool $2.36 million to take their own piece of Jurassic Park home — or wherever you put a dinosaur skeleton.
Considering selling some items yourself? Contact us today, or feel free to call directly at (405) 751-6179.
