A woman who paid £100 for a locked trunk belonging to Agatha Christie has uncovered some of the author’s most personal possessions, worth £100,000.
Lucky Jennifer Grant bought the battered brown leather case at an auction held at Greenway House, Christie’s former home near Kingswear, Devon, and found another box inside.
The Agatha Christie’s fan, who is a keen follower of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, paid just £100 for the memento and kept it at her home in London as a ‘dinner party talking point’.
Jennifer Hawkins’ at home with John Benjamin and the jewellery found in the antiques box formerly owned by Agatha Christie’s mother
But when she asked her builder to force the two brass locks on the case, she was stunned to find a metal strong-box inside
Jennifer contacted the original auctioneers who had no knowledge of the strong-box or a key so Jennifer wrenched it open – and found a lost hoard of the Christie’s family jewels.
The box held more than 50 gold coins, a buckle-shaped brooch and what is thought to be Agatha’s mother’s diamond engagement ring.
In her autobiography, published in 1977 a year after her death, Christie described some jewellery of her mother’s that she and her sister Madge hoped to inherit.
She wrote of ‘my mother’s valuable jewellery’ and ‘my diamond buckle, my diamond crescent and my diamond engagement ring’.
Christie wrote: ‘They were all earmarked for the future on my mother’s demise. Madge was to have the diamond crescent, I was to have the diamond buckle.’
The larger trunk bought by Jennifer bears the initials ‘C.M.M.’ – the same as Christie’s mother, Clara Margaret Miller.
The jewellery found in the antiques box formerly owned by Agatha Christie’s
OMAHA, Nebraska (AP) — Linda Stafford has been going to garage sales for 30 years, and taking good-natured ribbing from her family all the while.
Now, the tables have turned.
Stafford has found more than $3,000 in bills dating from 1928 to 1953 in the bottom of a high-backed chair she bought at a garage sale — for two bucks.
“When we found the money, they could probably hear us screaming all over the neighborhood,” said Stafford, 57.
She made the discovery while trying to make room in her garage for more furniture. When one of her daughters, Mandy Rath, heard something rattle in the chair, they removed the bottom. Placed inside a compartment were two paper packets, one with $10 in coins, the other with $3,060 in bills.
Stafford remembers what she paid for the chair, but not where she bought it.
“I know that I’ve had it out in our garage for at least a year, maybe two,” she said.
But, Stafford was not sure how she would spend the money.
“Who knows?” she said. “I might spend it all at garage sales.”
One never knows for sure what they are buying till they get it home!
I can only guess what the chair looked like as there are no photos on the net, picture above is mine!
"The powers of the mind are memory and imagination: without memory, we have no past; without imagination, no future."
J Bardens
Learning to live authentically in a world that expects perfection
A gaggle of musings and meanderings
Peterborough and Douro Ontario Portrait Photographer
Old World Charm Meets Modern Comforts. Come and Experience the Beauty and History of the Keweenaw.
155a Northcote Road London SW11 6QB Tel 020 7228 6850
... Making Broken Beautiful
393 bushwick ave Brooklyn NY SELLING ON INSTAGRAM @reuseamericany . Open Wednesdays - Sundays 12-5pm We Buy Furniture Every Day +1 (305) 984-1051
Tips and tricks for all your automotive troubles
The Universe is Made of Stories, not Atoms
sharing vulnerability and wearing clothes
DA2697
Just a couple guys running a small farm in the Cascades.
Express yourself. It is later than you think.
A pretty place for personal style, cooking, DIY, and home inspiration.
Designing delightful reading experiences, both innovative and traditional.
Sharing my creative journey...
"People buy tickets to theatres, not movies." -- Marcus Loew
the intersection of graphic design + picture books
Having fun Hunting for vintage treasures!
Creating a beautiful life, one stitch at a time
Unique Destinations, Weird History and More…
I'm K Murphy. I design.
Where Vintage Designer Fashion Meets the Runway
Reflections of a Female Seminary Graduate
Updates, Fashion Finds, News about Nelda's and things we love.
Fine vintage clothing and accessories from 1920s - 1980s
I love my vintage everything!
All your friends are here!
Blogging about Costume Jewelry, Gemstones, Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories
Inspired vintage for you and your home.
1909ventilo's Blog 