Posted on 03/20/2014 8:01:34 AM PDT by JoeProBono
LONDON, A U.S. scrap metal dealer intending to melt down an ornament for its gold was shocked to discover it was a $33 million Faberge egg, a British expert said.
Kieran McCarthy of London jeweler Wartski said the scrap metal dealer, who wished to remain anonymous, bought the gold egg for $13,302 from an antiques dealer about a decade ago and had planned to melt it down and sell the metal, but the project was put on hold when he was unable to find a buyer, the Telegraph reported Wednesday.
McCarthy said the egg stayed in the man's home until a night in 2012 when he decided to Google "egg" and "Vacheron Constantin," the name etched on the timepiece inside the egg.
The man discovered a Telegraph article from earlier that year that included an interview with McCarthy and a picture of the egg in his possession.
"He saw the article and recognized his egg in the picture. He flew straight over to London -- the first time he had ever been to Europe -- and came to see us. He hadn't slept for days," McCarthy said. "He brought pictures of the egg and I knew instantaneously that was it. I was flabbergasted -- it was like being Indiana Jones and finding the Lost Ark."
McCarthy said he flew to the United States and verified the egg.
"I examined it and said, 'You have an Imperial Faberge Easter Egg.' And he practically fainted. He literally fell to the floor in astonishment," he said.
The egg, created by Carl Faberge for Tsar Alexander III in 1887, was purchased by Wartski on behalf of a Faberge collector.
McCarthy said the scrap dealer is "petrified" of his newfound wealth becoming public knowledge.
"He's from another world entirely. It's a world of diners and pick-up trucks, real blue-collar America, and he and his partner are still stunned by all this," he said. "When I saw them in January, they hadn't moved out but they were going to, although I think it was just to a bigger house around the corner. They've also bought a new car."
Who says that the Feds won’t do this again.If I owned gold I would’nt notify the Feds thats for sure because your Gold won’t be yours for long.
I don’t really believe it either. You can tell just by looking that this is no ‘ordinary’ piece.
Absolutely beautiful. I sometimes think of all the beautiful art/objects/buildings built because someone loved beauty and had the money to commission/pay for the the expressions of that appreciation. Our world is richer for it. IMHO
I agree. It sounds like a fake story. One thing I have learned from watching Storage Wars is that even stupid people can smell money. No way this guy got the egg for $13k unless it was stolen and on the black market. Now, the rightful owner and the gubmint will be all over this.
In our house, anything I’m not guarding under lock and key, may be trashed at any moment, if it’s in the way, or lacks perceived “fung shway” value....
(do you really think I care whether I spelled that correctly?)
BTTT!................
He was looking at the gold value, not the artistic or historic value..................
Why didn’t he take it to the Pawn Stars?
I needed a 10 pound bar of solid copper for a project,paid $65 for it on Ebay, thats a fact, but the one they sent me is a lighter color and weighs more it seems to me, oh well, I will just use it as a door stop.
I wonder how long it will take the Russians to claim it a stolen treasure?......................
It also says, “He’s from another world entirely. It’s a world of diners and pick-up trucks, real blue-collar America, and he and his partner are still stunned by all this,” he said. “When I saw them in January, they hadn’t moved out but they were going to, although I think it was just to a bigger house around the corner. They’ve also bought a new car.”
If he had $13K to throw away without a thought for a decade. He probably could afford to eat at an upscale restaurant.
The story is probably about 10% accurate.
Faberge eggs become symbols of power in new Russia
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-22956394
The Russian government will claim stolen treasure rights and want Obozo to confiscate it...................
That may just be a ‘Cover Story’..................
“I don’t believe this story in the way it was told. Why would ANYONE want to melt down that (obviously) high end clock? It says that the owner is a ‘scrap metal dealer’. Surely he knows better than that.”
It doesn’t say “Faberge” on it and IMO is one of the uglier pieces.
If I saw it, I’d think it was valuable. Maybe double the scrap value. But I’d never think it was $30 Mil valuable.
yeah..that is usually the way it works with me too.
I didn't realize you were married to my sister. Small world...
Oh, this kind of thing happens to me all the time. ALL the time. Yeah.
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