Hoarder filled his home with a ‘mountain’ of antique treasures including EIGHT grandfather clocks, a classic 1956 Morris Minor and 18th century pottery as collection is tipped to sell for over £50,000 at auction
- Collection of antique treasures were discovered inside terraced property in Wolverhampton, West Midlands
- Property belonged to retired antiques dealer who spent 60 years filling home with more than 400 valuables
- Experts found a classic 1956 Morris Minor car, eight grandfather clocks, an organ and an 18th century coffer
A collection of antique treasures that were discovered inside a hoarder’s home are now tipped to sell for more than £50,000 when they go up for auction.
The ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of antiques, including eight grandfather clocks, an organ and an 18th century coffer, were found buried under hundreds of bags and boxes inside the terraced property in Wolverhampton, West Midlands.
The treasure trove was unearthed during a clearance of the Victorian town house which belonged to a retired antiques dealer.
The hoarder, who spent 60 years filling his home with more than 400 valuables, has now moved into a smaller property with his elderly wife but his family will put his antiques up for auction on his behalf.
Hansons Auctioneers, who will be conducting the auction, said they found a classic 1956 Morris Minor in the garage of the property – which is valued at £6,000 – during their clearance of the property.
The collection of antique treasures were found buried under hundreds of bags and boxes inside the terraced property in Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Experts discovered eight grandfather clocks and more than 400 antique items inside the Victorian town house, which belonged to a retired antiques dealer
Inside the property was an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of antiques, including a Staffordshire creamware mug (left), which could fetch £200 at auction, and a Welsh stick chair (right) which is being guided at £600-£800
Experts also found a mahogany shipwright’s chest packed with tools, which could sell for £1,000, and a 1790s Staffordshire creamware mug plucked from a box of worthless pottery – which is tipped to fetch £200.
Also inside the property was a collection of bicycles in the loft and a coffer which is estimated to fetch between £150 and £250.
There were also teddies which had been dressed up with silver pocket watches, bicycles and a Welsh stick chair.
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-£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.
Experts discovered an original 1956 Morris Minor ‘Split Screen’, which is valued at £5,000-£6,000, inside the property in Wolverhampton
Hansons Auctioneers, who will be conducting the auction, uncovered a mahogany shipwright’s chest packed with tools which could sell for upwards of £1,000
Also inside the property, which belonged to a retired antiques dealer, was a coffer which is estimated to fetch between £150 and £250
‘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.
The former resident of the property spent 60 years filling his home with more than 400 valuables and his family will put his antiques up for auction on his behalf
The collection of antique treasures, including eight grandfather clocks, an organ and an 18th century coffer, are now tipped to sell for more than £50,000 when they go up for auction
‘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.
‘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 sale by Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyshire, takes place on January 29.
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