A battered old trunk bought for £100 at an Agatha Christie auction has revealed contents as mysterious as the woman to whom they once belonged.


Home & Antiques reader Jennifer Grant bought the trunk in September 2006 . The trunk contained a locked strongbox and the auctioneer had no knowledge of a key.
 
Jennifer says: ‘For a long time, I dreamt about what might be inside but I never really believed anything would be. It was my cousin Vera who finally
convinced me to open it.'
 
Inside the box Jennifer found a black crocheted bag containing 35 gold sovereigns and 17 half sovereigns, a diamond mounted platinum ring and a diamond buckle-shaped brooch. Moreover, she discovered the initials ‘CMM’ engraved on the trunk were those of Agatha’s mother, Clara
Margaret Miller.

When Jennifer then read in Agatha’s autobiography that her mother’s ‘valuable jewellery consisted of “my diamond buckle, .my diamond crescent and my diamond engagement ring’”, she approached Homes & Antiques magazine’s Ask the Experts for advice and a valuation.
 
Jewellery specialist John Benjamin valued the treasures at over £12,500.

Agatha Christie’s grandson MathewPrichard said the owner of the suitcase: ‘has been lucky and good luck to them. I suppose if those particular jewels came on the market I would be interested in buying.’
 
'It is a poignant discovery, as Agatha's mother was the most important person in her life.'