(Image: Supplied)
An empty chocolate box has sold for £1,700 at auction in Scarborough after attracting bids far beyond expectations because of its rare royal connection.
The solid silver Rowntree’s box, made to mark the coronation of King Edward VII, was sold by David Duggleby auctioneers in Scarborough on Friday.
Believed to be only the second of its kind ever sold at auction, the 125-year-old box originally contained a single bar of chocolate.
Holly Hammond of David Duggleby auctioneers said: "The level of interest in the auction has been quite astonishing.
Holly Hammond with the silver coronation chocolate box
(Image: Supplied)
"There has been media coverage all over the world – Europe, North America, the Far East, New Zealand, Australia – with enquiries and bidding from all over the place."
The box is one of only a handful produced by Rowntree in solid silver, commissioned from Sheffield’s Cooper Brothers & Sons to mark the 1902 coronation.
Unlike the thousands of souvenir tins given to members of the public, the silver editions were reserved for the King and Queen, and a few members of the Rowntree family.
A similar box previously appeared at a London auction in 2007, fetching £1,200.
In Scarborough, pre-sale estimates were quickly overtaken.
Shot of the chocolate box.
(Image: Supplied)
Ms Hammond said: "The pre-sale estimate was £800-£1,000 but that was passed by advance bidding days ahead of the auction.
"The live bidding started at £1,100 and quickly settled into a three-way fight involving bidders in Cyprus, Japan, and Hull."
The winning bid came from Hull, keeping the box in the UK, despite strong interest from overseas.
Ms Hammond said: "It has been a great pleasure to handle such an interesting piece – and for the saleroom to establish what would seem to be a new record price.
"The condition of the box was remarkable.
"They were issued to the royals and members of the Rowntree family in red leather cases, and this one retained its original case."
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She added that the box was also notable for a royal mix-up.
Ms Hammond said: "As well as everything else it is a fascinating conversation piece - because the date of the Coronation emblazoned on the front of the box, June 26th 1902, is wrong!
"The King and Queen were due to be crowned on June 26th but King Edward was taken ill with an abdominal abscess that required surgery shortly before the date and the ceremony was postponed for six weeks. The coronation did not actually happen until 9th August."