When you hear the word “auction,” you probably imagine fancy art, expensive jewellery, or old furniture. But auctions aren’t only about those high-end treasures; they can also feature some really unusual and quite frankly bizarre pieces. Over time, auction houses have sold all sorts of strange and quirky items for surprising amounts of money. Let’s dive into some of the most unusual things that have ever been sold at auction.
1. Napoleon’s Tooth
Believe it or not, Napoleon Bonaparte’s real tooth was auctioned off in 2011. It was taken out while he was in exile on St. Helena, turning it into a one-of-a-kind historical artifact. The tooth sold for an impressive £13,000, bought by a dentist eager to add a piece of the French emperor’s dental legacy to his collection. It’s certainly a quirky yet intriguing way to dive into the world of historical collectibles!
2. A Jar of Hair from the King of Music… Elvis
For true Elvis enthusiasts, having a piece of the King of Rock and Roll is like hitting the jackpot. Back in 2002, a jar of Elvis Presley’s hair went under the hammer for an astonishing $115,000. This hair was gathered over time by his personal barber and turned into a priceless asset. It might sound slight odd to some, however it’s actually pretty common for celebrity hair to be sold at auctions.
3. The Ghost of a Haunted House
One of the weirdest auction items ever wasn’t something you could physically touch, but rather a something of a more spiritual nature. Back in 2010, a woman from New Zealand said her house was haunted and put the two “ghosts” in glass vials and up for auction. The whole thing was pretty wild, but what’s even crazier is that the ghosts went for over NZ $2,000!
The top bidder, an electronic cigarette company, said it was looking for ideas on what to do with the ghosts. We wonder what they eventually decided to do with the spooky pair – if you know do share with us.
4. A Slice of Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s Wedding Cake
Cake usually doesn’t last long, but royal wedding cake is a whole different story! In 2021, a slice from Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding from 1981 sold for an impressive £1,850 at auction. This slice, over 40 years old, was kept in its original box and was marketed as a collector’s item. I’m not sure this was purchased to digest!
5 . A Diamond Ring from Outer Space
In 2022 a massive 555.55-carat diamond, believed to be from outer space, just fetched £3.16 million in an online auction. Sotheby’s sold this ancient gem, dubbed ‘The Enigma,’ which is thought to have originated a billion years ago. Sophie Stevens, a diamond jewellery expert at Sotheby’s stated;
“The shape of the diamond is based on the Middle-Eastern palm symbol of the Khamsa, which stands for strength and it stands for protection,” she said. Khamsa in Arabic means five.
“So, there’s a nice theme of the number five running throughout the diamond.”
Stevens also said the black diamond is likely from outer space.
“With the carbonado diamonds, we believe that they were formed through extraterrestrial origins, with meteorites colliding with the Earth and either forming chemical vapor disposition or indeed coming from the meteorites themselves,” she said.
The auction world is not limited to traditional high-value items such as silverware and vintage jewellery; it also encompasses an array of bizarre and unique collectibles, ranging from historical artifacts to a slice of royal wedding cake. These unusual items highlight the diverse interests of collectors and the surprising amounts they are willing to pay for such eccentric pieces. We wonder what bizarre pieces will grace the auction houses over the next few decades…
