The biggest difference between the absurdly rich and the rest of the world is our definition of expensive furniture. Some of us don’t think spending more on a piece of furniture than we spend on a home is a good financial decision. However, the very rich oftentimes have single pieces of furniture in their homes that cost more than a luxury vehicle, a boat or even an entire house. These five pieces are the most expensive, most extravagant, most upscale pieces sold to the rich.
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Art Deco Lamps
Most homes feature a few lamps and some decorative light fixtures. They might cost a few hundred dollars or even a few thousand. What they don’t cost, however, is $750,000 each. This set of four custom-made French art deco lamps, however, do cost $750,000 a piece. For the entire set someone very rich is going to have to spend more than $3 million. To place these lamps in their home, they’ll need ceilings far more than 14 feet tall, being that each lamp stands 14 feet in height. What makes these lamps so expensive and rare is the fact that they are believed to be the only set of hanging art deco lamps in existence.
Photo Source: 1stdibs
Writing Desk
A writing desk isn’t exactly a fixture in most homes, but in the upscale home office of someone very wealthy, it’s not unheard of. This 18th century writing desk is rare in and of itself, but what makes it even rarer is the fact that the exterior almost completely consists of tortoiseshell underlaid with 22-carat gold. The interior features several intricately designed drawers, shelves and paneling. Add to that the fact that it’s one of the most well-preserved pieces from the 18th century and you have one writing desk worth a tremendous amount of money. The exceptionally rich can afford the $1.25 million price tag.
Photo Source: 1stdibs
Chandelier
Murano glass is high-end and lovely. It’s already something that only people with big bank accounts can afford. However, this one particular chandelier is said to be in mint condition. The murano glass chandelier was designed by famous glassmaker Giulio Salviati in the 19th century. It’s tinted in solid gold and hung in the Salviati museum until its removal in the 1970s. The beautiful chandelier was then hung in the dining room of a fabulous Venetian palazzo. There are no pieces missing and it is fully functional. That means it’s well worth the $1 million price tag.
Photo Source: 1stdibs
Bedroom Set
The average bedroom set costs around $2000. The bedroom set that originally belonged to King Farouk of Egypt costs a little more than that. In fact, it costs $985,000 for the set. The eight piece set includes a bed frame with such intricate detail it’s thought to be hand carved from the famous Parisian designer Antoine Krieger. The set includes a dresser, armoire, two night stands, a vanity and mirror and an even larger mirror that allows the wealthy person who purchases this bedroom set to see how he or she looks standing in the world’s most expensive bedroom.
Photo Source: 1stdibs
Sideboard
This gorgeous sideboard was once part of a set, though it’s now a single piece. Created and designed in the 1580s, this piece is from the height of the French Renaissance. The matching piece in this set is part of the collection of Henry Clay Frick, a Gilded Age industrialist. Made by the most skilled artisans of the time – and of many times since – this piece is so intricately designed that it won’t actually be used when it’s purchased. It will be added to a fine arts and furniture collection, protected from hands running over it and dousing it with oils, not to mention potential knicks, scrapes, scratches and spills that go along with using this piece as a functional sideboard. Of course, even the richest people aren’t exactly excited to use a $985,000 sideboard at casual Sunday dinners.
Photo Source: 1stdibs
