The glasses, which have already attracted an online offer for 6,000 pounds, are said to have belonged to the family of the anonymous elderly seller in England. (Proceedings)
A pair of gold-plated glasses believed to have been worn by Mahatma Gandhi and presented as gifts in the 1900s have emerged on the UK auction circuit, and are estimated to sell for between £ 10,000 and £ 15,000. East Bristol Auctions in Hanham, southwest England, said on Sunday they were pleasantly surprised to find that the glasses, which were dropped in their mailbox in an envelope, may have such a rich history behind them.
“It is a huge find of great historical importance. The seller assumed they were interesting but worthless and told me to get rid of them ‘if they are worth nothing,’ ”said East Bristol Auctions auctioneer Andy Stowe. “I think he almost fell off his chair when we presented our assessment. It’s a really cool auction story and one that we all dream of, ”he said.
The glasses, which have already attracted an online offer for 6,000 pounds, are said to have belonged to the family of the elderly anonymous seller in England, who was told by his father that they were a gift to his uncle when he was working for him. British Petroleum in South Africa between 1910 and 1930.
“The seller’s uncle definitely worked for British Petroleum in South Africa, and I think Gandhi didn’t wear glasses until the late 1910s and early 1920s,” says Stowe, referring to the provenance of the glasses, which are probably an of the first of Gandhi. couples during their stay in South Africa.
“The story that appears with the lot is exactly what the seller told us and exactly what his father told him about 50 years ago,” explains Stowe. The lot, titled “Mahatma Gandhi’s Personal Glasses Pair,” is part of auctioneers’ online sale of military, historic and classic cars and will go up for auction on August 21.
It has already attracted a lot of interest, even from India. “A renowned pair of early 20th century c1920 gold-plated round frame glasses owned and worn by Mahatma Gandhi,” notes the details of the auction lot.
“The usual shape glasses, with gold-plated arms and prescription lenses. United by a gold-plated nose bar, the glasses formed an important and somewhat iconic part of Gandhi’s overall appearance. He was known to often give away old or unwanted peers to those in need or those who had helped him. A rare and important pair of glasses, ”he says.
“The uncle who worked for British Petroleum at the time and was stationed in South Africa, and it can be assumed that these were given as a thank you from Gandhi for some good deed. A note from the supplier is included, ”adds the auction lot. Gandhi became synonymous with the iconic round-rimmed Windsor-style glasses, common during his law school period in England in the late 1800s and 1900s.
Although they were initially worn infrequently, the glasses became a regular feature during the national movement and Gandhi’s civil disobedience protests in India. It is known that he gave his personal items as gifts to admirers and, over the years, several similar items have emerged on the auction circuit.
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