The artefacts, dating back to various pharaonic eras, are expected to attract the attention of collectors worldwide. Their estimated prices reach hundreds of thousands of US dollars.

The "Antiques" auction is scheduled for 4 February 2025 and will feature 84 pieces that carry immense historical value, including artefacts from Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine cultures.

The items from the third millennium BC to the 12th century AD will be on public display at Christie's Rockefeller Centre galleries in New York from 31 January to 3 February 2025.

The British luxury auction house Christie's has recently been criticized for violating international conventions by auctioning nearly two dozen Egyptian artefacts in London.

The controversy has raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of such sales. Experts argue that the auction house's actions contradict global agreements signed to protect cultural heritage and prevent the illegal trade of antiquities.

Journey from Egypt to auction
 

A highlight of the auction is an ancient Egyptian wooden prosthetic limb for the right foot dating from the Old Kingdom to the Middle Kingdom, between the sixth and twelfth dynasties (2345-1773 BC). Its estimated price ranges from $7,000 to $9,000.

According to Christie's website, the wooden foot artefact's journey outside Egypt began in 1981 when it arrived in Basel, Switzerland, as part of a private collection. It then moved to London in 2015 and was eventually acquired by its current owner in 2016.

Another valuable piece is an Egyptian limestone relief from the Old Kingdom, dating back to the sixth dynasty (2345-2300 BC), valued between $200,000 and $300,000.

This piece was brought to New York in 1909 and was exhibited in various galleries and auction houses, including British Sotheby's. Then, its current owner purchased it in 2015, according to Christie's website.

These pieces have sparked significant reactions in cultural and archaeological circles, with calls for immediate intervention by Egyptian authorities, including the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, to retrieve such valuable artefacts.