|
|
New Agatha Christie mystery as family diamonds are discovered in trunk 1 March 2010
|
| A battered old trunk bought for £100 at an Agatha Christie auction has revealed contents as mysterious as the woman to whom they once belonged. |
Home & Antiques reader Jennifer Grant bought the trunk in September 2006 at the sale of the contents of the author’s former home in Devon. The trunk contained a locked strongbox and the auctioneer had no knowledge of a key.
Jennifer commented: "For a long time, I dreamt about what might be inside but I never really believed anything would be. It was my cousin Vera who finally convinced me to open it."
Inside the box Jennifer found a black crocheted bag containing 35 gold sovereigns and 17 half sovereigns, a diamond mounted platinum ring and a diamond buckle-shaped brooch. Moreover, she discovered the initials 'CMM' engraved on the trunk were those of Agatha's mother, Clara Margaret Miller. When Jennifer then read in Agatha's autobiography that her mother's 'valuable jewellery consisted of "my diamond buckle, my diamond crescent and my diamond engagement ring'", she approached Homes & Antiques magazine's Ask the Experts for advice and a valuation.
Jewellery specialist John Benjamin valued the treasures at over £12,500, even without taking the provenance into account. "With the Christie family connection, who knows what they could go for? In all my years in this business, this is the most amazing story I have ever come across."
Agatha Christie’s grandson Mathew Prichard said the owner of the suitcase: "has been lucky and good luck to them. I suppose if those particular jewels came on the market I would be interested in buying."
Angela Linforth, Editor of Homes & Antiques, commented: "This is the thing we all dream of when we’re out antiquing – the secret drawer with a stash of priceless documents, the sketch that turns out to be Constable, or the junk-shop Fabergé find. When Jennifer's photograph and email came in we were so excited. It’s the magazine’s biggest find to date and the Agatha Christie connection is so intriguing."
You can read full details of 'A new Agatha Christie Mystery' in the April issue of Homes & Antiques magazine, on sale 3 March 2010, £3.60. www.bbchomesandantiques.com
-ENDS-
For all media enquiries, please contact:
Tabitha Morton | 0117 3148300 | tabithamorton@bbcmagazines.com
Carolyn Wray | 0117 3148812 | carolynwray@bbcmagazines.com
BBC Magazines Bristol Press Office
|
|
|
|