A couple of weeks ago we posted about a Fabergé egg that had been recently discovered and sold at auction for $18 million dollars. That was an amazing price.

This even tinier piece of art – albeit much older – also was expected to bring in $18 million dollars, but – surprise! It brought $57 million to the auction block.

This lion is 3 1/4-inch limestone masterpiece that originated from ancient Mesopotamia – the land of Gilgamesh and the place of original writings – and that could fit in the palm of your hand. It was found at a site near Baghdad and had been on loan from Alastair and Edith Martin to the Brooklyn Museum of Art for nearly 60 years. It is thought to be about 5,000 years old.

Based on this inflated price, the “Standing female figure with clasped hands,” Early Dynastic IIIA, ca. 2600–2500 B.C. and standing 9″ high would be worth more than 200 million dollars. That is more than the Gross National Income of most countries, such as Guinea-Bissau, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Dominica and many more

I am perplexed and certainly one should take a step back and ponder the value of art at the expense of humanity and starving people.