HUMAN body parts sold at auction in Leamington! Strange but true.
A pair of earlobes went under the hammer at an auction at the Old Elephant House on Sunday in what is believed to be a world first.
The amputated lobes of circus performer Hannibal Helmurto fetched £460 at a horror themed auction at the Moreton Street saleroom.
Old Elephant House manager Steve Hunt said there was lots of interest in the lobes from as far away as Australia and America.
He said: “There was a radio station in Australia that wanted to buy it and put in the reception – we got a huge response.
“As far as we know, this is the only time parts of a living person have ever been sold at auction.
“We had no idea of the value and it wasn’t easy to estimate.
“It was one of those things that would either freak people out or they would go mad for it.”
Human taxidermy of any kind is extremely rare and highly sought-after by secretive collectors. Skulls and bones of the deceased are difficult to come by, but the flesh of a living person is unheard of.
German national Hannibal who now lives in London said it was something fun to do, and thought it would make a “nice little souvenir”.
And the person with that souvenir is 41 year-old Sarah Martin from Nottinghamshire.
She told The Observer: “I was really anxious I wasn’t going to win and was afraid it was going to reach into the thousands.
“I’m into collecting all things weird. When it’s unique I’ll go for it although this is a first for me.”
