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A hoard of silver and gold antiques that were found littering an unassuming house in Swindon achieved a staggering £111,000 when it went to auction on Friday.
The extensive collection of silver plate, watches, gold coins and military memorabilia was found by the family of a Swindon man after he died. Silver and gold antiques were found around the house, in a shed, and even in cars.
The top price of the hoard was also the top price of the whole sale, conducted in Cirencester on Friday (September 28) by auctioneers Moore Allen & Innocent.
A rare James II gold five guineas coin dated 1688 achieved £7,900 – well above its £2,000 to £3,000 estimate.
A Charles II gold five guineas coin dated 1668 made £4,600, and a William and Mary gold five guineas coin minted in 1692, and valued at £2,000 to £3,000, made £3,600.
Of the 100-plus antique pocket watches found in a suitcase, the top price was an 18 carat gold cased full hunter pocket watch, which made £1,800.
From the collection of military memorabilia, a dagger owned by a member of the Reichsar-beitsdienst – or Reich Labour Service – engraved ‘Arbeit Adelt’ (‘Work Ennobles’) made £720, and an American Civil War US Navy Dahlgren Bowie bayonet, stamped 1862, fetched £620.
Auctioneer and valuer Philip Allwood said: “We were delighted to break the £100,000 total, and the £111,000 collection total is exceptional.
“It helped us towards a record-breaking sale total for a Moore Allen & Innocent selected antiques sale of £270,000.”
Recalling the find, auctioneer and valuer Philip Allwood said: “When the family invited me to look at these antiques I was expecting a quantity of silver plate. I was amazed when I discovered all this very high quality silver and gold.
“It was a real Aladdin’s Cave. Perhaps the most surprising thing was the number of antique silver salvers – trays used for carrying or serving glasses, cups and dishes by waiting staff. There were more than 30 of them.”
But the Swindon hoard wasn’t the only treasure found in a shed – a tatty late Victorian upholstered armchair by Howard & Sons of London, with wear and tear to the arms and base, was snapped up for restoration for £2,700.
Other stand-out results from the sale included an early 18th Century walnut and floral marquetry inlaid longcase clock by William Jobson, London, which achieved £6,800; a three-metre long elm refectory table, originally from Lord Inchcape’s house in Hertfordshire, which achieved £5,000; and an Anglo-Indian ivory chess, with 11cm high white and green pieces on a mahogany table, which made £3,900.
And there was good news for Cheltenham-based Sue Ryder Care. Five 68-gram gold proof sovereign four-coin cases, from 1992, each achieved around £1,800 while a sixth 28-gram gold proof sovereign three coin set from 1994 made £760, meaning a tally of over £10,000 for the charity. The lots had been donated to the charity and were sold commission free by Moore Allen.
For more information about buying and selling at auction, log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk