Roman Sculpture Sells for Record $34.3 Million
The 1st-century marble torso set a new auction record for a Roman antiquity at Sotheby's New York.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Fine Art
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A 1st-century Roman marble sculpture depicting an emperor's armored torso fetched $34.3 million at Sotheby's New York. The sale established a new record for the most expensive Roman antiquity ever sold at auction.
Why it matters
The sale significantly outperformed the presale estimate, highlighting the enduring high demand for rare classical antiquities among global collectors. It also serves as a major centerpiece for a larger multi-year liquidation of an extensive private collection.
The sculpture sold for $22.3 million more than its $12 million presale estimate. This result surpassed the previous record of $28.6 million for a Roman antiquity.
The players
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is a world-renowned fine art auction house that conducts sales of luxury items and historical artifacts across international locations.
The details
The piece, carved from stone sourced from the island of Paros, drew a competitive 14-minute bidding war among five collectors. The seller had previously acquired the work in 2010 for $7.4 million.
Timeline
The seller purchased the sculpture for $7.4 million in 2010.
The record-breaking sale occurred on October 21, 2026.
The remaining 900 works from the collection will be sold through 2027.
Industry Dynamics
This sale marks a departure from historical benchmarks by resetting the record for the most expensive Roman antiquity ever sold at auction. It signals robust confidence in the high-end classical art market as the industry prepares for upcoming multi-year collection liquidations.
The record-breaking sale highlights the increasing exclusivity of top-tier antiquities, which are largely accessible only to elite private collectors at major auction houses. Future pieces from this collection will continue to be auctioned in New York and Paris through 2027, maintaining limited public access.
The takeaway
Art investors should note that exceptional antiquities with clear historical origins continue to command prices well above initial valuation estimates. The performance of this sale underscores a growing trend in the premium art market where rare historical artifacts serve as high-value assets.
What happens next
The remainder of the private collection, totaling over 900 works, is scheduled for auction events held in New York and Paris through 2027.
Further reading
For more on the current market for historical pieces, see the Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by artnet News.
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