Modest Christmas Tree Acquired for a Meager Sum Fetches $4,000 at Auction
A nostalgic Christmas tree, purchased for a few pennies over a century ago, astoundingly sold for £3,411 ($4,328) at an auction, fueled by the enchanting spirit of the holiday season
The "astonishing" sale of a Christmas tree from over a century ago, bought for a small amount, has been attributed to a mix of festive magic and nostalgia. The 31-inch tree, with 25 branches, 12 berries, and six mini candle holders, was estimated to sell for £60-80 ($76-$102) but ended up being sold for £3,411 ($4,328) at auction on Friday at Hansons Auctioneers in Oxfordshire, England. Global bidding led to the higher than expected final price.
"The spirit of Christmas continues to enchant! The most unassuming Christmas tree in the world has found a new residence, and we are thrilled for both the purchaser and the seller," stated Charles Hanson, proprietor of Hansons Auctioneers, in the announcement.
The Christmas tree arrived at the home of Dorothy Grant in 1920, when she was 8 years old, and was treasured until her death at age 101 in 2014.
Hansons Auctioneers
Dorothy Grant's Christmas tree arrived at her home in Leicestershire in England's East Midlands in 1920, when she was 8 years old. The auction house described her as "wildly excited" to receive it. In an effort to mimic snow, Dorothy decorated the tree with cotton wool, as baubles were considered lavish after World War I.
Dorothy cherished the tree until she passed away at the age of 101 in 2014. Following her passing, her 84-year-old daughter, Shirley Hall, inherited the tree.
Shirley Hall, pictured at home in Leicestershire, England, inherited the tree from her mother at age 84.
Hansons Auctioneers
"It may have been originally purchased for next to nothing, but it has sold for thousands, which is truly astonishing. I believe it's due to the power of nostalgia. Dorothy's story really struck a chord with people," explained Hanson.
Dorothy adored the tree, as simple as it was. It became a beloved fixture in family celebrations for years. Its ability to bring her such happiness is truly humbling. It serves as a reminder that capturing the spirit of Christmas does not require extravagance or excess," he added.
Charles Hanson, owner of auction house Hansons Auctioneers, called the tree sale "astonishing," adding: "I think its down to the power of nostalgia."
Hansons Auctioneers
Hanson proposed in the announcement that the tree may have been made for a high-end London department store. While it bears similarities to the initial mass-produced artificial trees sold by the well-known department store Woolworths, he noted that it stands apart from previous trees sold there because of the red paint embellishment on its wooden base.
"The seller chose to let it go to honor her mother's memory and to guarantee its preservation as a simple memento of 1920s life - a decade of economic highs and lows," he further commented.
In 2019, a Christmas tree similar to Dorothy's was sold at Hansons Auctioneers for £150 ($190), after being purchased in Scotland for 6 pence (8 cents) in 1937. Another tree, discovered in Derby, England, sold for £420 ($533) in 2017. "But Dorothys tree has truly excelled," he said.
