House was an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’
Mountain of antiques collected by hoarder could fetch £50,000 at auction
AN incredible £50,000 treasure trove of more than 400 items has been discovered in the home of an elderly hoarder.
The ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of antiques was found buried under hundreds of bags and boxes crammed floor to ceiling in every room of the terraced property in Wolverhampton.
The amazing haul was unearthed during a clearance of the Victorian townhouse which belonged to a retired antiques dealer.
The hoarder, who spent 60 years filling his home with valuables, has now moved into a smaller property with his elderly wife. The valuables include eight grandfather clocks worth £1,000, an 18th century coffer and even a classic 1956 Morris Minor split screen worth up to £6,000, among many others.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers who cleared the house, said: “It was unbelievable – a real Aladdin’s Cave of objects gathered over more than 60 years.
“The house was packed with hundreds of items jumbled together.
“But far from being valueless, many antiques emerged including quality furniture such as a magnificent 18th century coffer, which was completely hidden from view.
“The coffer has an estimate of £150 to £250. Another great find was a Welsh stick chair which is being guided at £600-£800.
‘‘The elderly man who used to live at the house is a retired antiques shop owner and, as we slowly uncovered items, it became clear he has always had a real eye for items of quality.
“We regularly come across keen collectors who amass hundreds of items fuelled by their interests.
“But this can turn us into hoarders over time, especially as the years rolls by. It’s not unusual – almost a British pastime in fact.
“We all have a tendency to hang on to things we like or think we may need again. This gentleman collected a mountain of objects.
“For example, he had numerous watch parts in a repair room and we uncovered a mahogany shipwright’s chest packed with tools which could sell for upwards of £1,000. There was another surprise in the garage. It housed an original 1956 Morris Minor ‘Split Screen’ – a great classic car discovery valued at £5,000£6,000.
“There were also quite a few bicycles, some vintage, in the loft space. The ceiling had been strengthened and the roof hatch made large enough to accommodate them.
“Another rather sweet find was a collection of teddies. The toys themselves were of little value but some of them had been dressed up with silver pocket watches.
“We kept on searching through cupboards and boxes and treasures kept emerging unexpectedly.
“For example, a circa 1790 Staffordshire creamware mug valued at up to £200 was plucked from a box of worthless pottery. It was a home crammed to the rafters with hidden gems – a collector’s paradise.
“We’re told the owner moved into the property in 1956 and by 1957 the carpet was barely visible.’’
Mr Hanson added: “I think it’s very hard to stop collecting if you spend your life in the antiques business.
“A fascination with all things old, historical and quirky is what draws you into the industry in the first place.
“Thanks to this retired antique shop owner’s eye for quality antiques and vintage finds, we can offer a new generation of collectors a multitude of interesting items to bid on.”
The 400 items will be sold on Saturday and are expected to fetch more than £50,000.