Couple almost threw out real ancient Egyptian sphinxes sold for $265k

By Ben Turner via SWNS

A retired couple's pair of carved sphinxes that sat on their front lawn for 15 years have sold for $265,177 after they were found to be genuine artifacts from ancient Egypt.

The couple almost threw away the stone relics, believing them to be 18th-century replicas after buying them for $407 (£300) at an auction house.

They had used the mythical sphinxes as decoration for their garden patio with no idea that they were ancient Egyptian artifacts.

But when bidding started at $271 (£200), telephone and internet buyers flooded in and the sphinxes finally sold to an international art gallery for a whopping $265,177.96 (£195,000).

“This was an exciting day at the auction," said auctioneer James Mander.

"We were very pleased to inform the vendors who had purchased and enjoyed these as garden ornaments for many years, with no idea of their true value.

“There was some interest prior to the auction during the viewing, but really we had no indication of their value until the auction began."

The sphinxes were among various garden ornaments collected from a house near Suffolk, England.

At the time they were believed to be 18th century in date, probably acquired during the grand tour in the 18th or 19th century.

But experts established that they were genuine ancient Egyptian examples that had somehow passed through history as 18th-century copies.

Sphinxes were treasured in ancient Egypt as guardians to temples and were viewed as benevolent and ferociously strong.

The items are believed to be one of the highest value lots to be sold at a local auction this year.