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Priceless paintings, vases and other treasures people didn't know they owned

Treasure sat right under people's noses
Dead man's treasure hidden in abandoned furniture: $30,000 (£23.3k)
Dead man's treasure hidden in abandoned furniture: $30,000 (£23.3k)
The René Lalique vase that was dumped in the loft: $51,600 (£42.6k)
The René Lalique vase that was dumped in the loft: $51,600 (£42.6k)
The doorstop that turned out to be a meteorite: $100,000 (£85k)
The doorstop that turned out to be a meteorite: $100,000 (£85k)
The Meiji vase in Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto: $110,000 (£85k)
The Meiji vase in Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto: $110,000 (£85k)
Two gold bars found in grandmother's sheets: $102,200 (£78.6k)
Two gold bars found in grandmother's sheets: $102,200 (£78.6k)
The Roman planter found in a decrepit garden: $107,800 (£89k)
The Roman planter found in a decrepit garden: $107,800 (£89k)
The lost Aboriginal painting hanging in a government office: $115,000 (£94.9k)
The lost Aboriginal painting hanging in a government office: $115,000 (£94.9k)
A rare Chinese vase found in a house clearance: $260,000 (£200k)
A rare Chinese vase found in a house clearance: $260,000 (£200k)
The Ancient Egyptian sphinxes in an English garden: $265,000 (£195k)
The Ancient Egyptian sphinxes in an English garden: $265,000 (£195k)
The Avant-Garde masterpiece spotted in the Stuart Little movie: $270,000 (£208k)
The Avant-Garde masterpiece spotted in the Stuart Little movie: $270,000 (£208k)
Star Wars toys left in a garage: $330,000 (£250k)
Star Wars toys left in a garage: $330,000 (£250k)
The Tiepolo drawing found in an attic: $340,000 (£250k)
The Tiepolo drawing found in an attic: $340,000 (£250k)
The Chinese Song dynasty pot sitting on a dresser: $443,000 (£320k)
The Chinese Song dynasty pot sitting on a dresser: $443,000 (£320k)
The Old Master painting discovered in a spare room: $655,000 (£540k)
The Old Master painting discovered in a spare room: $655,000 (£540k)
The Qing famille rose vase left in storage: $761,900 (£550,000)
The Qing famille rose vase left in storage: $761,900 (£550,000)
The gold coins found in the walls of a French mansion: $1.2 million (£893k)
The gold coins found in the walls of a French mansion: $1.2 million (£893k)
The tired old blanket found in a closet: $1.5 million (£1.2m)
The tired old blanket found in a closet: $1.5 million (£1.2m)
An 18th-century bust propping open a shed: $1.7 million (£1.4m)
An 18th-century bust propping open a shed: $1.7 million (£1.4m)
The missing antique cabinet gracing a pizza joint: $1.8 million (£1.5m)
The missing antique cabinet gracing a pizza joint: $1.8 million (£1.5m)
The gift that turned out to be a Canaletto: $2.4 million (£2m)
The gift that turned out to be a Canaletto: $2.4 million (£2m)
The Constable hanging under the stairs: $2.8 million (£2.3m)
The Constable hanging under the stairs: $2.8 million (£2.3m)
The dining room Rembrandt nobody liked: $3.7 million (£2.8m)
The dining room Rembrandt nobody liked: $3.7 million (£2.8m)
The museum-quality Japanese chest used as a TV stand: $7.6 million (£6.3m)
The museum-quality Japanese chest used as a TV stand: $7.6 million (£6.3m)
A painting by Fragonard spotted in a French apartment: $9.1 million (£6.6m)
A painting by Fragonard spotted in a French apartment: $9.1 million (£6.6m)
Long-lost Cimabue found hanging in kitchen: $26.5 million (£20.3m)
Long-lost Cimabue found hanging in kitchen: $26.5 million (£20.3m)
Three exquisite Ming vases used as umbrella stands: up to $64.4 million (£53.1m)
Three exquisite Ming vases used as umbrella stands: up to $64.4 million (£53.1m)
Three exquisite Ming vases used as umbrella stands: up to $64.4 million (£53.1m)
The 34-carat diamond in the jewellery box
The 34-carat diamond in the jewellery box
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FEATONBY'S AUCTIONEERS

Treasure sat right under people's noses

From a priceless vase that was used as an umbrella stand to a huge diamond that its owner thought was costume jewellery, you’d be amazed at the valuable items people have had under their noses for years without realising. Read on to find out about the unbelievable art, artefacts and treasure people didn’t know they owned. All dollar values in US dollars and sterling conversions correct at time of sale.
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lovemoney staff

05 April 2022

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