There were several high profile antiques sales in 2014, including a new world record. Chinese porcelain continues to achieve strong values at auction as entrepreneurs and plutocrats buy back pieces of their national history.
This trend has been growing in recent years and looks likely to continue into 2015.
Top antique sale of 2014
 The chicken cup is the world's most valuable piece of Chinese porcelain - and any antique |
A 15th century Chinese Meiyintang "Chicken Cup" was the biggest selling antique of 2014, achieving $36.2m at Sotheby's Hong Kong in April - a new world record for an antique at auction.
The piece is one of only 14 known cups, which are prized for their delicate designs and regal provenance.
Important antiques sales of 2014
 The Xuande "three fish" stemcup displays an early red glaze design |
A 15th century Xuande "three fish" stemcup sold for $5.6m at Sotheby's Hong Kong in October. The piece is one of the earliest examples of Chinese porcelain to feature a design in red glaze.
A 14th century Yuan dynasty dish made $4.1m at Sotheby's New York.
A Xuande gilt bronze duck incense burner realised $3.7m at Sotheby's Hong Kong in April.
A particularly fine Easter Island Rapa paddle, used in religious ceremonies, made $2.3m at Sotheby's Paris in December.
A 16th century Ottoman Iznic bowl also sold well, realising £1.4m ($2.3m) at Christie's London in April, setting a new auction record for Iznic pottery.
It was a breakout year for…
 The statue of Sekhemka sold for a world record £15.7m ($27m) at Christie's |
Ancient Egyptian sculpture, with a statue of Sekhemka selling for a world record $15.7m at Christie's London after being consigned by the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery.
It was a year to forget for…
The Northampton Museum and Art Gallery. The sale of the statue whipped up a storm of controversy over ownership, with high profile figures including comic book artist and writer Alan Moore weighing in to blast the decision.
It ultimately lost its accreditation and is no longer eligible for government funding.
One you may have missed...
A 2,300-year-old Egyptian sarcophagus was discovered in the home of a pensioner in Essex, UK in August. It later sold for £12,000 ($18,487).
