Auctioneer values family's box of tat' at more than £20k.

Family’s shock after auctioneer finds jewellery worth more than £20,000 while on valuation visit to property in Perthshire

A Perthshire family were stunned to be told that their “box of tat” contained jewellery worth more than £20,000.

Auctioneer Nick Burns made the discovery on a home valuation visit.

“I went to view some bits and pieces at a property in Perthshire,” said Mr Burns.

“Once we had gone round the principal things, an old metal egg box was produced. A member of the family said it had always been referred to as the ‘box of tat’.”

Wondering what he would find, Mr Burns sifted through the contents and discovered a treasure trove of jewellery, including two stunning pieces by the top maker Cartier, a pair of diamond and amethyst earrings in their original box and a ruby and diamond brooch, again in its box.

“It was not what I expected to find in a ‘box of tat’, it was quite a discovery,” said Mr Burns.

“The family were delighted and amazed.”

He estimates that the Cartier pieces date from the 1920s to the 1950s and has valued the earrings at £4,000 to £6,000 and the brooch at £2,000 to £3,000.

The box contained more diamond, ruby and amethyst jewellery, as well as less valuable “run of the mill” items, adding up to somewhere between £15,000 and £25,000.

It appeared that over the years the family had lost sight of the quality of some of the items in their ownership. They will now be sold at Lindsay Burns’ Perth auction house in the sale on April 24-25.

Mr Burns said it was the kind of discovery that he lived for.

Just last year he found a bottle of rum “languishing” in a garage which sold for £8,500, while a Persian carpet folded up in a Perthshire shed fetched £10,500. “There are things out there,” he said. “I would urge people who have an inkling that they have items that have potential value to get in touch.”

The King Street auction house is holding a valuation day for jewellery on Tuesday, from 10am to 2pm.

People can either drop in or call 01738 633888 to make an appointment.

The family were delighted and amazed.

NICK BURNS, AUCTIONEER

Auctioneer Nick Burns rather modestly describes the unearthing of a treasure trove of rare and expensive jewellery in a Perthshire family’s old “box of tat” as “quite a discovery.”

It is an inspiring tale.

Cartier pieces dating from the 1920s are just some of the items included in the hugely impressive haul.

Anyone with a few spare moments this weekend may well feel inspired to have a root around in their attic...

Picture: Angus Findlay. Auctioneer Nick Burns with the metal box and the jewellery which was found inside. The items could collectively sell for between £15,000 and £25,000.