A golden, bejewelled hare that was at the centre of a major public treasure hunt has been auctioned for the second time, selling for £82,550 in London.
Sotheby’s sold the piece last Friday, November 28.
It had been at the centre of Masquerade, a 1979 book by illustrator Kit Williams, that contained clues to a treasure hunt.
Mr Williams made and then buried the hare, valued at around £5,000, before launched the book that contained clues to its location.
The release was a big success. The book sold out in days, inspiring a national craze for the puzzle that made Mr Williams a celebrity. So many treasure seekers excavated at Haresfield Beacon in Gloucestershire that Williams paid for a sign to tell them the hare wasn’t there.
Williams, left, took TV quiz show presenter Bamber Gascoigne with him to witness the burial of the hare that sold hundreds of thousands of books and caused thousands of holes to be dug. Image courtesy of Sotheby’s.
The jewelled hare was found, in Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire, by a man using the name Ken Thomas. He was later revealed to be Dugald Thompson, who had a distant personal link to Mr Williams that stirred a brief controversy.
Williams’ hare, named Jack in the story, is of 18-karat gold. Sotheby’s describe the body as having a “pierced design with foliate scrolls”, along with many adornments including a ruby eye, bells, and dangling decorations.
Jack the the hare was sold in 1988 for £31,900 at auction.
At this sale he was listed with an estimate of £10,000 to £20,000.
Tabitha Downer of Sotheby’s told the BBC that “a real frenzy of competitive bidding” pushed Jack to a closing price of £82,550.
Mr Williams had an eye on the sale, reportedly to a UK-based private collector with interest, telling the BBC: “The current owners have been good and generous guardians of the Masquerade Jewel, agreeing to put it on public exhibition at the V&A Museum and at the Sydney Opera House.
“But Jack Hare is preparing for another leap into the unknown on his unpredictable Quest! I watch with great interest where he might land this time!”
