Have you ever dreamed of uncovering a priceless treasure in your attic? Or perhaps you enjoy browsing online auctions in your spare time, looking for that special bargain. There are lots of factors that determine whether an antique is worth a great deal of money, including its uniqueness and historical significance.
Napoleon’s Sword
Napoleon’s sword is one such unique and historically significant antique. He took a gold-encrusted sword into battle in Italy in 1800. That was before Napoleon became the emperor. The saber is slightly curved and is adorned with Napoleon’s favorite motifs, including the head of Jupiter. The sword fetched USD $6.4 million at an auction in France in 2007. It had been put up for auction by one branch of the family of Napoleon’s descendants, and it was purchased by another branch of the family.
Germain Royal Soup Tureen
This finely crafted soup tureen was made from silver in the 18th century by Thomas Germain, a French silversmith who was fond of the Rococo style. In 1723, Germain was appointed the official silversmith of the king. One of the pieces he created for the king was this tureen, which weighs 30 pounds and has an impressive lid with large, ornate sculptures made of silver. Since many precious pieces were later melted down to pay for the French Revolution and the Seven Years’ War, the survival of this particular tureen has made it even more valuable. In 1996, it fetched $10,287,500 at auction.
Ming Dynasty Gold Tripod Vessel
This extremely rare antique from the Ming Dynasty period was sold for about $15 million in 2008, making it the most expensive antique of Chinese metalwork. The vessel is crafted from 18 karat gold. It has a thinly hammered body adorned with dragons in pursuit of flaming pearls.
Hines Auction Service holds online and live, onsite auctions in Ellsworth, WI. You can browse their website to view upcoming auctions or call (715) 273-3377. You just might find a special treasure!
Hines Auction Service, Inc was started in the 1960’s by Colonel Jack Hines of Ellsworth, WI. The business grew year after year. Jack sold everything from farms to machinery to antiques.
Business continued to grow and the family became ever more involved. Eventually Jack was joined by his son Jeff. Jeff worked on and off with his father for many years and graduated from auction college in 1985.
Jeff finally joined his father full time in the 90s and the business took off. As a team, this father and son duo helped to grow one of the largest auction firms in the Midwest.
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