Stamford Auction Rooms sells waste paper bin for £10,000

A waste paper basket sold at an auction in Stamford recently - for a huge £10,000.

Jessica Wall, the founder, director and auctioneer of Stamford Auction Rooms, spotted the basket while clearing through a home in Stamford for someone who had recently died.

Four early 19th Century brass heraldic plaques, each written in French with hand painted decoration and dated July 6, 1812, 1821 had been fixed together to form a box which had been used for a waste paper bin or a planter but fortunately with no ill effect to the plaques.

It was hidden in a cupboard but Jessica knew immediately she had found treasure for her client.

It had an estimate of between £500 and £800 and with a detailed catalogue description, there was plenty of interest ahead of the auction.

But nothing could prepare senior valuer and auctioneer Sophie Chapman for what happened when she took the rostrum just a few bids before.

An internet bidder had placed an opening bid of £1,000 and it raised to £5,000 before a telephone bidder even got the chance to come in. After a frantic battle, the telephone bidder eventually won the auction.

Jessica said: "Not bad for a waste paper basket stuck in the back of a cupboard! It just shows, you never know what you may have lurking in the attic, an outhouse, under the bed or in the wardrobe."