The value of cultural relics is often difficult to estimate because of their rich historical, cultural and artistic connotations. The following are some cultural relics that everyone generally thinks are very valuable, and there are differences in personal opinions:
1. Tutankhamun Gold Mask
Tutankhamun's Golden Mask is an artifact of the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt, unearthed in 1922 in the Valley of the Tombs of the Kings in Egypt, and is now in the Cairo Museum in Egypt. The mask, made of gold leaf, depicts the face of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun and is considered one of the outstanding representatives of ancient Egyptian civilization.
The mask is 54 centimeters high, 39.3 centimeters wide and weighs 11 kilograms. The mask is inlaid with lapis lazuli, rubies and stained glass, giving it a rich and splendid appearance. On the forehead is decorated the eagle god and the cobra god, symbolizing the unity of upper and lower Egypt, and under it hangs a beard, symbolizing Osiris, the god of the underworld.
Recognized as one of the most exquisite artistic treasures in human history, Tutankhamun's golden mask is not only a symbol of ancient Egyptian civilization, but also represents the high level of craftsmanship and artistic achievements of ancient Egypt. Its value lies not only in the preciousness of its materials and the sophistication of its craftsmanship, but also in the historical and cultural significance it carries. It allows us to get a glimpse of the mysterious faces and majesty of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, and feel the splendor and mystery of the ancient Egyptian civilization. At the same time, it is also one of the most expensive artifacts in the world, with an estimated value of up to $10 trillion.
2. Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is an oil painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, now in the collection of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Famous all over the world for its mysterious smile and superb artistic skills, this painting is one of the most famous paintings in the world.
There is a theory about the background of the creation of the Mona Lisa, which is that Lisa Gherardini, the wife of the Florentine cloth merchant Francesco del Giorcondo, was unable to smile because of the loss of her daughter, so she was accompanied by several people to paint to make a smile. Some scholars believe that the woman in the painting was the wife of a Florentine official, and because of her loneliness and grief, da Vinci even played it in an orchestra to please her.
The Mona Lisa depicts an elegant woman sitting on a semicircular wooden chair with a railing behind her, separating the figure from the background. There are roads, rivers, bridges, mountains, etc. in the background, which is full of poetic artistic conception. The Mona Lisa in the painting is in a serene and steady posture, her eyes are looking into the distance, her hands are folded in front of her, her face is soft, and the corners of her mouth are pursed to reveal a smile that is just perceptible.
The value of the Mona Lisa lies not only in its artistic value, but also in the historical and cultural significance it carries. It is one of the masterpieces of the Renaissance and reflects the society, culture and people's ideas of the time. At the same time, it is also one of the most famous paintings in the world, attracting the attention and research of countless people.
In 1920, the Mona Lisa was valued at $3.5 billion. And in 2009, the famous French businessman Stephen suggested that the government sell the Mona Lisa for 50 billion euros. In addition, a copy of the Mona Lisa was also auctioned for more than 20 million yuan, while another Mona Lisa of the cold army had a starting price of 58 million.
3. Jewels of the British royal family
The British royal family has many precious jewels, including crowns, scepters, necklaces, etc., which represent the dignity and authority of the British royal family and have extremely high historical and cultural value.
St. Edward's Crown
Crafted in 1661, the crown is made of pure gold and is set with 444 gemstones, weighing a total of 2.23 kilograms, making it the heaviest piece of the British royal treasury. It was worn publicly only once at the coronation.
Imperial Crown
Originally created for Queen Victoria in 1838, the Imperial Crown has been refurbished several times and was recreated in its current form when George VI was crowned in 1937. The crown was mainly used for the coronation of monarchs as well as the opening ceremonies of parliament, and was occasionally exhibited. It features 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies, with the 170-carat Black Prince Ruby on the front and the Cullinan II diamond directly below.
Crown of George IV
Crafted for the coronation of King George IV in 1820, it features 1,333 diamonds totalling 327.75 carats, set with 169 pearls, and topped with roses, thistles and shamrocks symbolizing England, Scotland and Ireland respectively.
Britannica and Ireland Girl Tiara
The crown is topped with a festoon and fleur-de-lis design, set with diamonds, and the overall style is quite gorgeous and sparkling. It was originally a wedding gift from Queen Mary and was later passed on to the Queen as a wedding gift.
Grand Duchess of Vladimir crown
Originally belonging to the Grand Duchess of Vladimir Maria Pavlovna of Russia, after the Russian Revolution, it was smuggled out of St. Petersburg. After the death of the Grand Duchess, the tiara was bought by Queen Mary and passed on to the Queen. Its main body is made up of 15 ring-shaped diamond tiaras strung together, and the decoration inside the circle can be replaced.
Queen Alexandra's Russian crown
This Kokoshnik-style tiara originally belonged to Queen Alexandra, the Queen's great-grandmother. With a total of 488 diamonds set on 61 white gold bars, it is simple yet elegant and sparkling.
These are just some of the jewels of the British royal family, each of which carries historical and cultural values and is a precious legacy of the British royal family. (And the valuations of these crowns alone are tens of billions.) )
4. The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient manuscripts found in caves on the northwest shore of the Dead Sea in the mid-20th century, and are important artifacts for the study of Judaism, Christian history and culture.
First excavated in 1947 in the caves of Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls are made of parchment scrolls and cattails, and contain 11 complete manuscripts and about 40,000 fragments, written in a variety of languages, including Old Testament scriptures, exegetical books such as Bible commentaries, and non-biblical sources. The discovery shook the Western religious and historical community and was hailed as a major archaeological achievement, which helped to study early Judaism and Christianity, but the research did not go well, with some fragments being accused of forgery and new fragments being discovered. In short, it is an important document for the study of Judaism, Christian history and culture, as well as the religious, political, and social life of the ancient Middle East.
A large portion of the non-biblical literature is prophetic books about the end of the world, as well as writings about God's destruction of the forces of evil and the righteous kingdom of the Messiah's return.
Known as the "oldest and most complete Hebrew Bible book" - the Dead Sea Scrolls, the estimated value is 30 million US dollars - 50 million US dollars (about 200 million - 345 million yuan). However, this is only an estimate from the auction house, and the final transaction price will be affected by many factors, such as market demand, bidders' wishes, etc.
It is important to note that research and interpretation of the Dead Sea Scrolls is still ongoing, and different scholars may have different emphases and understandings.
5. The wreck of the Lady Atoka
In the 17th century, a Spanish gold ship was sunk by a hurricane on its way back to Spain. The large amount of treasure carried on the ship has become an underwater treasure that has attracted the attention of countless treasure hunters.
The Lady Atoca was a large Spanish galleon that sank in 1622 on the route from Cuba to Spain. The wreck of the Lady Atoka is considered one of the greatest treasures under the sea, also known as the "Bank of Spain". The ship contained 40 tons of treasure, including nearly 8 tons of gold and 500 kilograms of precious stones, all valued at about $400 million.
On July 20, 1985, after 16 years of continuous exploration, American Mel Fisher finally found the sinking site of the Lady Atoka and salvaged part of the treasure. However, he also paid a heavy price for this treasure hunt, not only spending a lot of money, but also losing his son, daughter-in-law and close assistants in the process, and going through more than 100 lawsuits.
6. Fabergé Easter eggs
Béger eggs are egg-like creations made by the famous Russian jeweller Peter Karl Fabergé, who and his assistants made a total of 69 eggs between 1885 and 1917 for the Tsar and private collectors. Of these, 54 were made for Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II, 52 were Easter eggs, and only 50 were delivered to the Tsar. The remaining seven Fabergé eggs were made for the Krchi family in Moscow.
These easter eggs are a testimony to the luxurious life of the Russian Tsar, and also show the achievements of Russia in art and culture in those years. It is made of precious materials such as gold, diamonds, and jadeite, and is inlaid with various gems and pearls, and the interior of the eggs also hides various surprises, such as pony carriages, hens, and crowns. Each egg is a unique work of art and has a high collection value. (The average valuation of each egg is in the hundreds of millions.) )
7. The crown of Poland
The crowns worn by the kings and queens of Polish history represent the dignity and authority of the Polish state and have extremely high historical and cultural value.
The most famous of these is the Bolesław I Crown, which dates back to 1320 and is one of the oldest crowns in Europe. This crown has been passed down from generation to generation by Polish kings and can be seen in many paintings of Polish kings. However, after Poland was partitioned between Prussia and Tsarist Russia in 1795, the crown was melted down by the Prussians, and a replica of it is now seen.
One of the peculiarities of the Polish crown is the fleur-de-lis shape, which is thought to have originated with the Franks, who established a kingdom in Western Europe after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, which later split into three and was the prototype of modern France, Italy, and Germany. Later, many European royal crowns were shaped with irises, which is thought to be related to the historical origin of the Frankish kingdom.
8. Haig's meteorite
Robert Haig is the world's most authoritative collector of meteorites, having been collecting meteorites since he was 23 years old. Initially, he was just a hobby, but when he discovered that meteorites were rare and valuable, and could be sold for a good price, he began to focus on meteorite collections.
In search of meteorites, he traveled to all continents on Earth except Antarctica. Not only will he get to the exact spot when there is a meteor shower forecast, but he will also buy meteorites from the locals. Haig's meteorite collection is full of thrills and legends, he once bought a 37-ton meteorite in Argentina for a large amount of money, but was arrested by Argentina for smuggling when it was shipped out of customs, and the meteorite was also left in Argentina.
Haig also searches for meteorites in the deserts of Africa, flying slowly 120 meters above the desert in a glide-landing soft-wing aircraft, using metal detectors to search for protrusions. For more than 20 years, the meteorites he found in the desert accounted for a significant portion of his private collection.
Currently, Haig owns the largest number of meteorites in the world, and his collection has exceeded $30 million at market prices. As more and more people began to collect meteorites, the value of his collection continued to grow.
9: Twelve screens of landscapes
"Twelve Screens of Landscape" is the most representative landscape work in the transition period of Qi Baishi's style, created in 1925, each screen size is 180 cm long, 47 cm wide, a total of 12 pieces. The twelve screens are "People on the River", "Shiyan Double Shadow", "Banqiao Lonely Sail", "Cypress Forest", "Far Shore Yuxia", "Pine White House", "Apricot Blossom Cottage", "Cedar Tower", "Smoke Deep Sail Shadow", "Spring Rain in the Mountains", "Mangrove White Spring" and "Bantang Lotus Fragrance".
This set of strip screens carries the feelings of the literati of the past dynasties, and the painting method is based on the brushwork of Shi Tao and Xu Wei, writing the real mountains and rivers of Hunan hometown and Guilin, and their hearts are completely immersed in the beautiful home of the Oriental, resonating with the viewer's heart.
There are two sets of "Twelve Screens of Landscapes", one was painted by Qi Baishi in 1932 for the Sichuan Army Wang Zhangxu, and is now collected in the Chongqing Museum; Another set of "Twelve Screens of Landscape" was given by Qi Baishi to Chen Zilin, a famous doctor in Beiping, and in the 50s of the last century, it was transferred to the secret collection of Guo Xiuyi and Huang Qixiang, a female disciple of Qi Baishi, and treasured in his home for half a century. On December 17, 2017, in the special auction of "Shaking the Past and the Present: Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy from the Northern Song Dynasty to the Present" in the autumn of the 12th anniversary of Poly in Beijing, a set of Qi Baishi's "Twelve Screens of Landscapes" collected by the private sector was sold for 930 million yuan, setting a new record for Chinese art auctions.
10: Li Lianying's jade wrench
Li Lianying was the chief eunuch during the reign of Cixi in the late Qing Dynasty, and a jade wrench was unearthed from his tomb, which was originally Prince Gong's favorite thing, and was later taken by the Empress Dowager Cixi as her own, and finally fell into the hands of Li Lianying. This wrench is emerald green in color, crystal clear, and still verdant after a hundred years, and is one of the treasures of the Capital Museum. Some experts estimate that it should be worth 120 million US dollars, about 720 million yuan.
In addition to the jade wrench, there are other treasures in Li Lianying's tomb, such as gold cigarette saucers, snuff bottles, coral pearls, etc. These treasures not only show Li Lianying's wealth, but also reflect the social style and cultural characteristics of the time.
These cultural relics have unique historical and cultural value, they have witnessed the development and evolution of human civilization, and are the common precious wealth of all mankind.