Sold to the highest bidder
For all the sensible items bought at auction – a valuable piece of jewellery, crockery to complete your collection, perhaps a rare coin – there’s the occasional curveball that’s equal parts weird and wonderful.
Leading European online auction platform Auctionet has joined forces with Censuswide to compile a list of the top 10 weirdest items people have bought through online auctions. The selection, along with the reasons behind these unusual purchases, is even more varied and bizarre than you might expect. Items range from a pickled alien, said to be from UFO hotspot Roswell in the USA, to an Ozzy Osbourne garden gnome, which shows the late Prince of Darkness in a whole new light.
Of course, collecting unconventional artefacts isn’t just a 21st-century habit: in the 16th and 17th centuries, we had Wunderkammer, or cabinets of curiosities, based on certain themes. By the Victorian era, fascination shifted to more intimate oddities, and people crafted or collected items such as hairwork – yes, artwork made from human hair – and even kept entire albums dedicated to it (those interested can find examples on display at the Brontë Parsonage Museum). Fast forward to more recent times, and a Welsh woman amassed a newsworthy collection of 10,000 plastic bags: proof that even household items can, in the right context, be downright odd…
The rock relic boom is back
Today’s strange purchases aren’t just novelties, they often tap into nostalgia, fandom, or cultural history. Take the Ozzy Osbourne garden gnome, for instance – a quirky item that reflects a broader appetite among metal and rock fans for memorabilia, according to Kayleigh Davies, publisher at Auctionet. Following Black Sabbath’s final gig and Ozzy’s death in July 2025, plus gauging the current market, she believes there’s renewed interest.
‘I expect to see a huge rise in interest in Black Sabbath memorabilia. In fact, I've seen people selling confetti from the final concert,’ she says. ‘Vinyl remains collectable in general, but only for cool records: they want the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Bowie, and so on. Band t-shirts are also on the rise, so if you have any from iconic rock concerts, you should dig these out; tickets can also be strong sellers.’
Online auction trends
The accessibility and inclusivity of internet auctions also makes it far easier to obtain unusual pieces. With no travel time and logistical issues, and no need to appear in person or bid over the telephone, you can focus your attention on finding that perfect piece.
‘In an age of mass production, online auctions offer the opportunity to find something unique without ever having to leave your home,’ Kayleigh explains. ‘Once you have the bug, it's a slippery slope, and you're only one step away from bidding on a fox wearing a top hat!’
The most recent outlandish purchases on Auctionet ranged from a stick pin adorned with teeth, via Rushbrooks Auctioneers, to a Murano glass clown and decanter, via Lawrences. More commonplace items on the site include Hermès scarves, Cartier jewellery, and a terracotta votive head. As well as bidding for UK-based treasures, items from certain European countries are also popular.
‘UK buyers like the Nordic countries – Scandinavia is aspirational and effortlessly stylish,’ says Kayleigh. ‘It makes us feel cool to pick up something directly from Sweden; they have so much wonderful art glass and ceramics, as well as other design pieces.’
Who buys the most at online auctions?
When it comes to UK demographics, Auctionet found that Boomers and Gen X are the true online auction enthusiasts, spending an average of £596 and £551 respectively. Men will typically spend more (£589) than women (£395), and those living in Manchester are the biggest bidders by region, shelling out approximately £634 on average.
Online buyers do tend to bid at key times, as Kayleigh has found: ‘We sometimes see a flurry of bidding at lunchtimes, when people may be scrolling with a sandwich, or in the evening, after dinner. We’ve also noticed that we get an influx of bids late on Friday and Saturday nights – maybe we can put this one down to people enjoying a glass of wine or two!’
Whatever time you choose to bid, the UK’s online auction frenzy shows no signs of dying down, and weird purchases are part of the overall appeal.
The top 10 weirdest things people (reportedly) bought at auction:
1. Pickled ‘alien’ in a glass jar – This is allegedly from Roswell, New Mexico, where a famous 1947 incident sparked UFO fever and conspiracy theories.
2. Grilled cheese sandwich with Lewis Hamilton carved into it – You can guarantee nobody else will have this talking point in their home, and it’s a lot cheaper than official F1 auction items connected to the racing driver (Graham Budd Auctions reports that a signed cap went for 213 per cent of its estimate in 2023).
3. Taxidermy mouse, dressed as Sherlock Holmes – Love it or hate it, taxidermy is no longer the preserve of Victorians. For 21st century shoppers and collectors, it’s been fashionable on and off since 2010.
4. Haunted painting that ‘made viewers feel sick’ – Whether you believe the ghost hype or you’re a sceptic, the temptation to put this artwork to the test is hard to resist.
5. Vintage owl wearing a top hat – Another animal tribute snapped up by a discerning collector. In general, owls are seen as wise and intuitive. If this floats your boat, you might also enjoy piscatorial taxidermy, as explored by antiques expert Luke Honey.
6. 'Haunted' porcelain doll – More spooky goings on for internet bidders. The market for dolls remains strong, but with increasing numbers of horror films featuring them as evil spirits, we can see younger bidders being less enamoured and more suspicious of the toys.
7. LaserDisc player – This tech advance may have been a fad, with discs being heavier and more fragile than VHS tapes of the time (from the late Seventies to late Nineties), but LaserDisc players are still around on the second-hand market. The Science Museum also holds a few copies of films in this format.
8. Ozzy Osbourne garden gnome – The late Ozzy Osbourne, known as the Prince of Darkness, might not have envisaged himself as a kitsch ornament, but this piece is an unforgettable tribute.
9. Butter churn – Before we had readily available butter pats and tubs, we had churns to make this kitchen staple (and did you know people also collect antique butter moulds?).
10. Commode disguised as a vintage chair – Subtly presented commodes have been popular over the centuries, preserving the modesty of those who needed them by hiding their real purpose. Today’s equivalents are functional and uninspiring, whereas you can’t deny the historical versions had style.
Image credits: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images; Dia Dipasupil for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame/Getty Images; Sepia Times Universal Images Group/Getty Images; ©Hulton Deutsch Collection Corbis/Getty Images; Lawrences/Auctionet; DeAgostini/Getty Images; Cubixet/Etsy; Le Heart Design.
