Roman Marble Torso Sells for $34.3 Million, Setting Auction Record at Sotheby's
On the evening of Wednesday, October 21, a Roman marble torso from the first century A.D. fetched $34.3 million at Sotheby's in New York, following a bidding war that lasted nearly 14 minutes. This sale established a new record for Roman antiquities at auction. The torso was part of Sotheby's Magnum Opus Evening Auction, which achieved a total of $63 million, exceeding its high estimate of $47.6 million and boasting a 100 percent sell-through rate. This auction marked the beginning of a series focused on a private collection gathered over centuries, featuring diverse items such as Roman sculptures, Venetian paintings, French royal furniture, Islamic textiles, and modern drawings, reflecting a unique collecting philosophy.
Key facts
- A Roman marble torso from the first century A.D. sold for $34.3 million at Sotheby's New York on October 21.
- The sale set a new auction record for a Roman antiquity.
- Bidding for the torso lasted nearly 14 minutes.
- The Magnum Opus Evening Auction totaled $63 million, above its $47.6 million high estimate.
- The auction achieved a 100 percent sell-through rate.
- The sale was the opening chapter of a series devoted to a private collection.
- The collection includes Roman sculpture, Venetian painting, French royal furniture, Islamic textiles, and modern drawings.
- The collecting philosophy behind the collection is described as less guided by conventional boundaries.
Entities
Institutions
Locations
- New York
- United States