It's not the kind of thing that any of us are ever going to find at a local car boot sale or from rummaging around a shop somewhere but it's every bit as fascinating to know that there are such treasures out there waiting to be discovered. I was talking with Britain's best known metal detectorist a few years ago and asked him whether or not there were treasures still to be found. "Of course," was his answer, "I think that maybe only a small fraction of what is buried has been found." Bill was clearly right!
The Staffordshire Hoard of Anglo Saxon items numbers more than one thousand - most of it gold and silver and thought to date back to between 675 and 725AD - has been hailed as a hugely important find. It has been valued at £3.28million, a figure set by Professor Norman Palmer, chairman of the Government-appointed committee and he admitted it had been a “difficult task” to reach its worth, saying “values are always speculative”. The money will be split equally between the finder Terry Herbert and the landowner Fred Johnson.
The hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon treasure ever found and if it had come onto the open market t is likely that t would have fetched an even greater price. Professor Palmer said. “All finders of treasure can take encouragement that the most valuable treasure find ever made was dealt with so speedily and yet so scrupulously by all parties concerned, given that the hoard was discovered only in July.”
British Museum Press has published a book about the find, called The Staffordshire Hoard, and £1 from every sale is going to the appeal fund. A selection of objects from the hoard will also go on display at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery from February 13 to March 7 next year.
Mr Herbert, 55, from Burntwood, Staffs, who is on disability benefit, discovered the hoard while searching the field near the M6 toll road between Lichfield and Tamworth on July 5 using his 14-year-old metal detector. He described unearthing the treasure as “more fun than winning the lottery” and said he hopes to buy a bungalow with some of his windfall.
As many of you will know I love costume jewellery and whenever I'm looking for interesting pieces my first port of call is Christobal in Church Street Marylebone in London, a wonderful shop run by my two friends Yai Thammachote and Steven Miners. They have just sent me some pictures of some exquisite pieces. I was speaking to a friend of mine this week whose sister is an inveterate car-booter and she found two Trifari pieces a couple of weeks ago. The sellers just thought they were nice bits of costume jewellery and she paid £5 each for them.
1950s Vendome Diamonte Bug Pin ~ 2" x 2 1/2" valued at £125
1950s Vendome Gilt Crystal Lantern P/E Set Size : Pin ~ 1 1/2" x 3", Earrings ~ 1 3/8" valued at £95
1950s Elsa Schiaparelli Carved Leaf - BlackDiamond and Topaz Large 3-D Pin Size ~ 2 3/4" x 3"
valued at £350
Very rare 1930s Trifari ' Alfred Philipp ' Enamel Diamonte Whirlygig Pin Size : 1 1/2" x 3" valued at £475
There's an interesting article in The Times today about a man who kept buying his wife antique jewellery and it has now sold at auction. It seems he may have been motivated by guilt. Read more HERE
I know it's not Sunday but I have just heard a really nice story about Arts Decoratif in Saffron Walden in Essex; the shop specializes in vintage jewellery and decorative arts. They are offering 20 per cent discount to all soldiers and their partners. Owner Ann Miller said: "After the wonderful parade we had in the town the other week, I just felt that we could offer a little something to show our appreciation. I think the troops are doing a wonderful job in difficult circumstances so this is a little thank you."
Arts Decoratif is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4 pm.
I’m not a football fan but my attention was grabbed by a story in today’s Scotsman about a rare Fabergé egg inspired by the former Celtic footballer expected to sell for close to £20,000 when it goes up for auction next month. The egg, number 13 of 19 produced, was handcrafted by Sarah Fabergé, the great granddaughter of the Tsar's jeweller, Peter Carl Fabergé. And it depicts Jimmy Johnstone striking a diamond football. David Convery, the director of Convery Auctions, who is organising the sale, said: "It's a remarkable item, a very attractive thing. I've had lots of inquiries over the years about the eggs, but this is the first one I've ever sold."
It's not the kind of thing that any of us are ever going to find at a local car boot sale or from rummaging around a shop somewhere but it's every bit as fascinating to know that there are such treasures out there waiting to be discovered. I was talking with Britain's best known metal detectorist a few years ago and asked him whether or not there were treasures still to be found. "Of course," was his answer, "I think that maybe only a small fraction of what is buried has been found." Bill was clearly right!
