100 year old box of Christmas crackers found in Gainsborough home sold at auction
A box of Christmas crackers that has survived festive seasons for almost a hundred years sold for £72 after being discovered in a wardrobe during a Gainsborough house clearance.
The box and contents are entirely intact with not one of the dozen luxury party crackers being taken out of the box.
They were displayed each Christmas with the box laid at the foot of a family Christmas tree with the lid removed, but then taken away again, unpulled, at the end of the festivities.
Kat Lister of Potter’s Auction Saleroom in Messingham said: “Originally a gift to our vendors’ grandparents from close friends who had shops in Nottingham and Lincolnshire back in the 1920s and 30s, they have been handed down in the family ever since.
“The grandparents apparently thought their friends’ present was far too special to actually pull the crackers and for decades they treated them simply as fine Christmas decorations.
“When their son, the retired Gainsborough businessman John Goddard, later inherited them he carried on the tradition, placing the box on display under the tree at Christmas but never allowing anyone to handle the crackers.
“His daughters did once suggest that perhaps the time had come to pull one or two and find out what is inside but he remained unmoved. They were he said, ‘Too nice to use’.
“We were recently asked to go along to assist members of the family who were having to clear Mr. Goddard’s Gainsborough home following his passing earlier this year. The art deco cracker was found amidst decorations stored away in a wardrobe.”
“I optimistically remarked that I didn’t suppose there were any crackers in it - and was absolutely flabbergasted when they replied ‘they’re all here’ and lifted the lid.
“They are Joey Party Crackers, made in England, and according to a sticker attached to the side of the box they are ‘filled with party hats and caps’.
“Presumably such fine crackers will also contain gifts, riddles or mottos and, of course, terrible jokes, all staple contents of crackers within a few years of their invention in 1847.
“It goes without saying that surviving examples of crackers of this age are rare – most boxes of crackers don’t make it past their first Christmas – but to find survivors in this condition is really special.”
The box of crackers attracted bidding from 25 bidders from all over the country but in the end it was won by a Scarborough bidder who saw off the challenge from a North Lincolnshire under bidder.
He got it for a hammer price of £72 so he'll pay just shy of a hundred pounds with buyer's premium and shipping.
Paul Potter said: "When you consider that the crackers probably cost around 5 shillings originally, 25 p, a not inconsiderable amount back in 1930, they've not been a bad investment. And of course they have given Christmas pleasure for almost a century.
“One other interesting thing, the crackers obviously attracted interest from people who are unfamiliar with the auction auction.”
Paul also said that they have had people offering higher amounts for the crackers since the auction. He has had to gently explain to them that once the hammer goes down that's it.