Business & Finance

Worcestershire Attic Jewels Fetch £506,750, Triple Pre‑Sale Estimate

By TOI World Desk

A jewellery collection that had been stored in boxes in a Worcestershire attic for decades sold at auction for £506,750, more than three times its original pre‑sale estimate. The 201 lots belonged to a late grandmother from Malvern, whose family discovered the full collection while clearing out the loft of her home. Chorley’s Auctioneers had initially valued the entire collection at around £150,000, but international buyers later competed fiercely for the pieces online and over the telephone. The sale was managed by Chorley’s at its Prinknash Abbey saleroom in Gloucestershire, and every lot found a buyer, giving the multi‑hour auction a 100 % sell‑through rate.

The most valuable item was a rare Belle Époque diamond and gemstone brooch designed by Cartier in 1905. The brooch, featuring delicate open‑work platinum settings typical of the Edwardian period, attracted strong competition from collectors worldwide. Bidding quickly passed its original estimate of £10,000–£15,000 and eventually sold to a private buyer by telephone for £48,000, before buyer fees were added.

Another highlight was an early‑20th‑century necklace made with natural pearls and diamonds. After laboratory tests confirmed the pearls came from natural saltwater sources, interest increased. Competitive bidding from trade specialists in London and Geneva resulted in a sale price of £34,000.

Other notable sales included a late Victorian sapphire and diamond cluster ring, which fetched £18,500, and a group of Art Deco diamond dress clips that sold for more than £42,000 combined.

The collection had been assembled by the late owner throughout the mid‑20th century, with many pieces passed down from older family members and others purchased from London dealers and regional estate sales. After her death, the jewellery was packed into its original leather presentation cases, biscuit tins, and velvet pouches and remained untouched in the attic of her Malvern home for decades. Family members found the collection while preparing the property for sale and asked Chorley’s specialists to inspect and value the items.

Specialists identified marks linked to well‑known jewellery houses such as Cartier, Boucheron and Garrard, as well as pieces without brand names from the Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco periods. The high quality of the jewellery and its well‑preserved condition, having spent decades stored away from light and not worn regularly, helped drive strong interest from buyers.

Werner Freundel, director at Chorley’s Auctioneers, said the team was thrilled to catalogue such an extraordinary collection that had lain hidden for so long. He noted that the late owner had a keen eye for quality, buying pieces for their beauty rather than just as investments, and that seeing the collection achieve more than three times its pre‑sale estimate was a wonderful outcome for the family. Freundel added that private estate collections that have not previously appeared on the market continue to attract strong prices, especially items with a documented history of private ownership.

The total hammer price for the 201 lots reached £506,750, and the proceeds will be distributed among the grandmother’s surviving heirs.