FORTUNE FOR NOTHING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1943, Page 4

FORTUNE FOR NOTHING

TREASURE IN OLD CHEST.

PURCHASED FOR 17s 6d.

An old sea chest bought at an auction sale in Sydney for 17s 6d, contained art treasures believed to be worth thousands of pounds.

Edward Elton, 17, of Bondi, who bought the chest, was offered £3O for two small paintings, and £5 each for Dresden china candlesticks, an hour after he made the purchase. The two paintings are believed to be originals by David Teniers, famous Flemmish artist of the 17th Century, and at least 300 years old. “Several Sydney art experts and critics have confirmed this belief,” Mrs M. Elton, the owner’s mother, said. “We now value these two works alone at more than £1000.”

Mrs Elton added that she had traced the chest back to an old Scots woman living near Sydney, who said that it had been brought from Scotland in a sailing ship about 75 years ago. It had been stored in an attic and eventually sold with other junk. Mr Douglas Dundas, head teacher of art and painting at Sydney Technical College, where Edward Elton is a student, said that he believed the pictures to be genuine. He had inspected them with several members of his staff, and all their characteristics, material and artistic, had been completely convincing.