Story Of A 285-Year Old Lemon With A Message That Was Sold For Rs 1.5 Lakh
Extraordinary and rate items often get sold for mind-bogglingly high prices at auctions. But, this time, Rs 1.5 lakh has been fetched in an auction for, believe it or not, a lemon.
Extraordinary and rare items often get sold for mind-bogglingly high prices at auctions. Every so often, you might hear about an exclusive jewelry owned by xyz Maharajah of yesteryear being sold for a ton of money.
But, this time, Rs 1.5 lakh has been fetched in an auction for, believe it or not, a lemon.
What is this lemon all about?
Around 2 inches wide and brown with age, the lemon in question is a 285-year-old fruit, found at the back of a 19th-century cabinet!
What makes this lemon special is the engraving on it. Yes, this unique dried lemon came with a message engraved on it which suggests that it¡¯s from 1739.
The message inscribed on the fruit reads, "Given By Mr P Lu Franchini Nov 4 1739 to Miss E Baxter."
A sour surprise
The family that 'owns' the lemon were actually interested in selling the cabinet where the lemon was kept in.
In fact, they brought the chest - which they say belonged to a deceased uncle - to the Brettells Auctioneers in Shropshire, UK to sell it.
Representative image/ Tripadvisor
It was only when a specialist was photographing the cabinet for sale that the lemon was discovered in the back of a drawer.
The auction house opted to try selling the aged lemon, and officials were astonished when it secured a substantial bid of $1,780.
In contrast, the cabinet only fetched $40!
Transcending the ordinary
Auctions have always been a stage for the exchange of extraordinary artifacts, each carrying a unique tale and often fetching prices that seem to defy imagination.
For instance, in 2015, the Blue Moon Diamond, a rare and flawless 12.03-carat blue diamond fetched a staggering $48.5 million.
Blue Moon Diamond/ ABC
In 1994, Bill Gates acquired one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous scientific notebooks, the Codex Leicester, at an auction for a jaw-dropping $30.8 million. The notebook is filled with da Vinci's observations and sketches on various scientific phenomena.
In 2018, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO became the most expensive car ever sold at auction, fetching a staggering $48.4 million.
These extraordinary artifacts are a testament to the fascination and willingness of collectors to invest in pieces that transcend the ordinary.
But, few would have thought a lemon to be in such a list of unique items auctioned!
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Srishti B Dutta brings you everything from rags-to-riches tales and inspiring student success stories to those "No way, this can't be real!" moments. Whether it's intriguing, heartwarming, or just plain quirky, she's got it covered.
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