Comscore Beacon

Investing In Artifacts

Page 2 of 2

Civil War artifacts

The market for artifacts from the American Civil War has its ups and downs, but is generally thriving. The sheer range of available pieces is enough to consume a lifetime. There are over 10,000 items listed on eBay alone (with auction prices): Hand-carved and personalized military whistles ($600), a brass staff officer’s sword ($2,100), even a nicely framed Robert E. Lee autograph ($50,000).   

However, it should be noted that while eBay has been used as a point of reference, the site is rife with fraudulent Civil War artifacts, to the point that reputable dealers have gathered petitions to draw eBay’s attention to the matter. To reiterate, due diligence is a given.

Investment potential: Medium. Interest in the Civil War rarely wanes, but prices have never really shown a significant upswing. Either you’re a Civil War buff or your money is better invested in other categories.

Greco-Roman artifacts

Artifacts from the Greco-Roman period are always among the most sought-after pieces because of their beauty and craftsmanship. Also, unlike most artifacts, many pieces can be attributed to specific artists of their time who enjoyed huge followings and continue to carry certain value today. Available pieces on the market include busts of bronze and marble, incredible late-Roman mosaic panels, gold hoop earrings and necklaces, perfume bottles, terracotta statuettes, and beautifully designed Greek vases and amphoras (storage jars) dating to the 6th century B.C., to name a few.    

As one might expect, prices are high. A classic example of a Greek Hydria, or water vessel, decorated with various scenes, can run as much as $60,000 or more.  

Investment potential: High. This is a well-established market with a long tradition of provenance. Additionally, with various governments beginning to restrict the release of artifacts, the market will inevitably tighten.

Ming ceramics

The Ming Dynasty began in 1368, at the end of the Mongol’s Yuan Dynasty, and ran to about 1644, making the Ming a distinctively native Chinese Dynasty. A new method of firing ceramics was developed at this time, contributing to the styles, variety and decorative beauty of these ceramics. New shapes, colors and designs followed, many of which make ceramics from this era easily identifiable to the experts and highly desirable to the collectors. To that end, the most famous and sought-after pieces are generally those in white and cobalt blue.   

Basic dishes from the Wanli reign, referred to as Kraak porcelain, run under $3,000 and actually appear rather plentiful vis-a-vis the kinds of pieces that have made Ming ceramics famous. A recent article in Forbes highlights just how hot the market has become for Asian ceramics from the Ming and other dynasties: A set of pieces sold at Doyle’s New York for more than $12 million, including a flask from the Yuan Dynasty which, alone, sold for $5.8 million. One reason the flask went for such a high price was because of its rarity as one of only seven known to exist. In this market, that kind of rarity is not uncommon.


cultural investments

There are always risks, and in this market, they include the fact that sometimes, legally purchased artifacts will turn up as having been looted at some earlier point, leading to lawsuits. Additionally, the concern over forgeries can often lead to paying a scholar to investigate your item's origins. Some pieces come with a provenance, but even this can be forged. Thus, it is recommended that, before making any major purchase in the field of artifacts (especially antiquities), you first check with Art Loss Register ( or Art Price ( to be certain the item hasn’t been tagged as stolen or looted.


Show comments