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Roman Torso Smashes Auction Record at $34M
27 Oct
Summary
- A nearly 2,000-year-old Roman emperor torso sold for $34.26 million.
- The sculpture previously sold for $7.36 million in 2010.
- It was displayed at major US museums from 2011 to 2024.
A Roman emperor's headless marble torso, nearly 2,000 years old, commanded an astonishing $34.26 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York on October 21, 2026. This sale set a new record for a Roman antiquity, dramatically exceeding its previous sale price of $7.36 million in 2010. The sculpture's significant increase in market value underscores the impact of provenance, rarity, and artistic merit on antiquities.
Believed to date from the first half of the first century AD, the Julio-Claudian period sculpture may represent emperors like Augustus, Tiberius, or Claudius. Originating from Salona, in modern-day Croatia, and possibly carved from Parian marble, its intricate breastplate features imagery of the sun god Sol. The torso has a notable exhibition history, displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (2011-2013, 2015-2017), Yale University Art Gallery (2013-2015), and the J. Paul Getty Museum (2021-2024), before its return to the auction block.
The intense bidding war at Sotheby's, lasting 14 minutes with five collectors competing, propelled the final price. This record-setting sale highlights the strong demand for exceptional ancient Roman artifacts. The torso's journey from ancient imperial art to private collections and now to a landmark auction event marks a significant moment in the art market, cementing its place as a highly valuable piece of history.
