Woman’s flea market find in Sweden sells for €124,000 and shocks auctioneers

A woman in Sweden made a remarkable discovery at a flea market, buying an old metal torch for a mere 25,000 kronor (€2,200). Auctioneers had no idea they were about to be astonished, as the torch turned out to be an unfinished Olympic torch from the 1956 equestrian Olympics held in Stockholm. Appraiser Staffan Milsten and his team at Stockholms Auktionsverk (Stockholm Auction House) in Helsingborg were initially surprised by the torch's potential, but the bidding surpassed their expectations, ultimately reaching €124,000.

The buyer's reaction was described as an "improbable feeling," as the torch is now the most expensive item ever sold at the Helsingborg auction rooms. Standing 41 centimeters tall, weighing half a kilogram, and made of aluminum, the torch is one of fewer than ten known examples. Originally created for the 1956 Olympics, it was never used and had been converted into a wall lamp at some point.

The torch was part of the equestrian events, which took place in Stockholm due to Australia's strict quarantine rules on imported horses. The original flame was lit in Greece, flown to Copenhagen, and transported to Stockholm by 150 riders over five days. The buyer remains anonymous, leaving the torch's future uncertain.