Roman marble torso of Julio-Claudian emperor fetches record auction price in New York
A roughly 2,000-year-old marble torso of a Roman emperor sold at Sotheby’s in New York for a record sum, about three times the pre-sale estimate.
Sotheby’s in New York concluded an auction of a marble torso that is estimated to be about 2,000 years old and depicts a Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian line. The piece was in excellent condition, prompting intense interest from five bidders who vied for the work for almost a quarter of an hour. When the sale closed, the price achieved was the highest ever recorded for a Roman artifact at auction, roughly three times the pre-sale estimate. The auction house has chosen not to reveal the winning bidder’s name. This transaction underscores strong market demand for high-quality classical antiquities.
Why it matters
The sale highlights soaring demand and record prices for rare classical art, influencing future antique market dynamics.
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