In the world of auctions, there have been some truly bizarre and peculiar items that have found their way onto the auction block. From historical artifacts to celebrity memorabilia, these auctions have showcased the strangest of the strange. This past year was no different. We decided to take a look back on what 2023 auctions produced that may make you scratch your head. Here’s what we found.
A Spanish Cabrales blue cheese sold for more than $32,000 at a cheese festival in Spain to become the most expensive cheese ever auctioned off. The cheese weighed in at 4.8 pounds and carried a costly price due to the tedious manufacturing process. A mixture of raw cow’s milk or a mixture of cow’s, sheep’s and goat’s milk is aged for at least four months in mountain caves in a region of Spain called Cabrales region.
As of this writing, the iPhone 15 is the latest mobile phone produced by tech giant Apple. Earlier in 2013, the iPhone’s first generation fetched $190,000 at an auction, which amounted to about 300 times more than the original sticker price. The phone debuted in 2007 for $499 and only held 4 gigabytes (GB) worth of information. Today’s iPhone’s can store 1 terabyte (1,000 GB).
Who knew two letters on a license plate could bring about so much demand. At a charity auction in Dubai, a vanity license plate with the words “P7” sold for a world record price of $15 million. Vanity license plates don’t generate as much financial interest in the U.S., although a Delaware license plate sold for more than $400,000 in 2018.
A small 31-inch Christmas tree from 1920 sold for $4,000 this past holiday season. The tree, which contained only 25 branches, was purchased in Leicestershire, England. The owner, who was 8 years old at the time, gave it to her 84-year-old daughter in 2014 when she passed away.
A rare painting left in a farm shed and covered in bird poop sold for $3.1 million. The painting created by Anthony van Dyck in the 1600s depicts an old man in the nude sitting on a stool. The painting was originally bought for $600 and was left in a New York farm shed for years.
A hat belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte sold for $2.1 million at an auction in France. The black felt bicorn hat is one of 20 or so that still exist. Napoleon, the French ruler during the 19th century, wore the hat every day as part of his uniform.
NBA legend Michael Jordan has made a living off following his playing career by selling his line of sneakers. Typically, these commercial shoes sell for hundreds of dollars.
His own personal shoes from his playing days are a different story. For example, a pair of Air Jordan 13 sneakers worn during the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $2.2 million. The sneakers became the most valuable sports footwear ever sold.
Freddie Mercury is a pop culture icon, and his fame has grown considerably over the years following the 2018 hit film “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Mercury, the lead vocalist of Queen, died in 1991. In 2023, more than 30,000 of his personal items were auctioned off for a combined $50.4 million.
Among the items? A mini Tiffany and Co. comb that Mercury used to brush his mustache. The comb sold for $189,000.
Stamps are typically only worth less than a dollar, but occasionally rare finds will pop up that will make you turn your head. Earlier in 2023, a stamp featuring an inverted Jenny airplane sold for $2 million to become the most expensive U.S. stamp ever sold. The stamp was printed by mistake – the Curtiss JN-4 airplane was upside down instead of rightside up – which made it extremely valuable due to the printing error.
Years ago, a woman bought an unsuspecting piece of art at a thrift store in Manchester, New Hampshire. Little did she know it was an authentic, rare oil panel by N.C. Wyeth, a popular illustrator who created “Treasure Island,” “Robin Hood,” and “Robinson Crusoe.”
The painting, which features two women (one sitting at a table and one standing up), eventually sold in 2023 for a whopping $191,000.
If you possess any distinctive or captivating items that you wish to sell, get in touch with today via contact form or directly call us at (405) 266-2709. Take a look at our upcoming auctions schedule to join and participate in one of our exciting events.
