A necklace discovered in a house clearance, originally marked £15, was taken to Ewbank’s auction house in Surrey, where it attracted a fierce bidding war among collectors.
The 18th‑century piece, crafted from human hair and sperm whale bone, hails from the Austral Islands of the South Pacific and is one of the few surviving examples of its kind.
According to senior partner Chris Ewbank, the necklace’s rarity and cultural provenance vaulted its desirability in a market that prizes authenticity over appearance.
The auction sparked a heated online duel between a French bidder and an Australian, with the live platform driving competition to a record‑breaking hammer price for the firm.
The owner of the house‑clearance firm, who had no idea of the necklace’s significance, changed his mind at the last moment, steering the item away from a £15 car‑boot stall and into the hands of collectors who appreciated its true worth.
The sale has prompted auction houses and museums to re‑evaluate items uncovered in house clearances, underscoring the need for expert assessment before items are sold at bargain prices.