Sotheby’s is distinguished among leading luxury auction houses. The Sotheby’s story began back in 1744 with a London bookseller and continues today. Let’s take a peek at the company’s top 5 most expensive auction items ever! Note that these items are just for Sotheby’s auction house, there may well be other items sold from others that are more painful on the pay scale.

5. “Dora Maar au Chat” The Dora Maar with Cat by Pablo Picasso was painted in 1941. It garnered an impressive $95.2 million at Sotheby’s auction in May of 2006. This piece is of Picasso’s mistress and was practically hidden until the sale.

4. “Garcon a la Pipe”: The Boy with a Pipe, also by Pablo Picasso, was created in 1905. Likely being admired by a billionaire with a pipe of his own, the piece sold for $104.2 million back in 2004. At the time of the sale, it marked the most expensive Picasso piece ever sold.

3. “L’Homme Qui Marche I”: Walking Man I by Alberto Giacometti was created in 1961. The piece sold in February of 2010 for $104.3 million USD, trumping the Picasso by a hair.

2. “Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)”: We have mentioned this pricey Andy Warhol piece in the past. It is a wonderfully talked about slice of his talents, and fetched a handsome $105.4 million back in November of 2013. It was created in 1963 during the pop artist’s prime time.

1. And the number one slot for this list is a scream: The $119.9 million dollar Edvard Munch. “The Scream” was made in 1895 and sold at Sotheby’s in May of 2012. The bidding process was fitting, with 8 participants vying for the piece rather audibly.

Word is that Sotheby’s is pushing for more of a presence online as well as off. They will host live eBay sales and other events. The phone –in sales have always been feverish, so there is no doubt that online sales will produce even more for the auction house.

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