Casket set aside for scrap in Staffordshire could fetch up to £3,000
A metal box set aside for scrap in Staffordshire could fetch up to £3,000 after it was spotted by an antiques expert.
Adrian Rathbone, associate director of Hansons Auctioneers, made the find during a routine visit to a home in Lichfield.
He spotted the Sialkot Koftgari piece – used to house jewellery – and "immediately knew" the item, from North India, would be valuable.
Mr Rathbone said he "couldn't believe" his eyes when he saw the piece from the 1850s, described as scrap, in between other less-valuable items.
He said: "Among the old candlesticks and pewter wares was a small steel casket with gold decoration. I knew immediately it could be something special, so took it away to carry out research.
"The 15cm wide casket with hinged lid and intricate gold surface decoration turned out to originate from North India and dates from the 1850s.
"It is a type of ware known as Sialkot Koftgari. As it has a lock it’s likely someone of great stature used it to hold their precious jewellery.”
The casket, valued at between £2,000 and £3,000, will go under the hammer at Bishton Hall on October 8.
Mr Rathbone added: "It’s great when you find something unexpectedly lurking in a corner.
"I really feel happy for the owner because, when you tell them an item they were going to discard is actually worth a lot of money, it really makes their day.
"These types of caskets rarely turn up at auction so there are few to compare it to, and they vary in size, but all have the most distinctive intricate gold surface decoration mimicking Indian architectural features.
"The message to anyone who’s been having a lockdown clear-out, is don’t dismiss anything – sometimes it's the items we overlook that are worth the most."
For more information email enquiries@hansonsbishton.co.uk or call 01889 882397
