High price for hei-tiki

This Maori pendant which was originally valued at just £7,000 sold for more than six times that estimate during the second day of an "attic sale" at the home of the Duke of Devonshire.

Experts from Sotheby’s, who have organised the sale of “rare and rediscovered items” at Chatsworth House, said they were astounded at the hammer price of the five-inch item, shown being held by Olivia Ralevski of the auctioneer.

The pendant, known as a hei-tiki, which was found hidden in the back of a cupboard, sold for 45,650 to an anonymous private bidder.

The attic sale, which finishes today, raised 4.4m on Tuesday alone. Picture: Chris Lawton