An Egyptian bronze cat that was nearly thrown in a skip has been sold at auction for £52,000.
The bronze figure – thought to be 2,500 years old – was discovered in a house clearance in west Cornwall.
The cat, which had been expected to fetch between £5,000-10,000, has been bought by a “prominent London dealer”.
Auctioneer David Lay said the original owners had no idea of the artefact’s value and were going to throw it in a skip.
Mr Lay said he discovered the cat was owned by Douglas Liddell who died in 2003.
The cat has been dated as 26th Dynasty – approximately 700 to 500BC – and the auctioneer said it would have been commissioned by an Egyptian of considerable means and high status.
Source: BBC
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