Cache in the attic

Caravaggio’s 1602 masterpiece The Taking of Christ, which is displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland, disappeared in the late 18th century. It was found in a Dublin house in 1990

ALAMY

Not all discoveries are worth a fortune, but for one man the discovery of a collection of old documents was life-changing. In 1990 Charles Egan’s father was in the process of closing up his family farm in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, when he found a box in an outhouse. It contained papers and ledgers, which he gave over to Egan to sift through. They were in bad condition, but Egan left them to dry in the hope of unveiling their secrets.

A year later he made a startling discovery. “I uncovered two payrolls dated November and December 1846. They related to famine-relief roads [a government initiative that gave work to famine victims]. I couldn’t believe it.”

The documents prompted Egan to do extensive research into famine-era Ireland and his own family background. He did not stop there. “Not many people are aware of our famine history. They know it happened, but haven’t many details. I wanted to change that.”

Egan has since published three novels all based on the documents and his own ancestors. The books — The Killing Snows, The Exile Breed, and Cold is the Dawn — are popular both at home and in countries with a large Irish diaspora.

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath your floorboards or is hidden in the walls of your house? Have you rooted through dusty old boxes buried under years of forgotten items in a family attic? The popularity of shows such as Antiques Roadshow and Cash in the Attic would suggest many of us have.

Our hunts will not always produce finds that have great monetary value. Often Granny’s old plate really is just Granny’s old plate, but sometimes a good rummage around your house can throw up interesting finds.

Over the past couple of years, Nora Ni Dhroighneáin and her boyfriend, Ciaran, have undertaken a mammoth restoration of a 19th-century house in Stoneybatter. The house was a shell when it was bought in 2015, but hidden in its fabric were little objects left by previous residents. When the frame of a bedroom sash window was removed, rusted nail scissors, an artist’s paintbrush and two tram tickets fell out. There were no dates on the tickets, but they were for the old Phoenix Park and Dalkey lines.

Hidden under the floorboards was a child’s toy — a clockwork battleship on wheels, with a tower, funnels, guns, and lifeboats. Pieces of newspapers from 1935 lined the walls, but it was the bedroom fireplaces that held the most interesting finds — a partially burnt box of Christmas cards from 1913 owned by a police officer at the Four Courts and a small gold-edged notebook owned by another officer, MJ O’C, dated in the mid-1880s.

Ni Dhroighneáin acknowledges that these items are not worth much money, but their value lies in the hints the give about the lives led by the house’s previous occupants. So far, they do not know who MJ O’C was, but the notebook gives us an intriguing look at his life

“He seems mostly concerned with the wellbeing of his sister, who lived in the state of New York. My favourite entry is one where he writes about finding his daughter, Maimie or Maisie, behind the barracks with a Constable Doyle. He writes that he escorts her home immediately. I really want to find out more about Maimie and her carry-on,” says Ni Dhroighneáin.

On rare occasions, however, a veritable gold mine is found. Ian Whyte, of Whyte’s Irish Art & Collectables Auctioneers, says you never know where the next €500,000 piece of art might be hanging. Many houses have art, whether it’s displayed on a wall or hiding in the attic. If you have found something, it is worth noting the name of the artist and doing a little research, advises Whyte. Auction houses often have a website that offers guides to known artists.

The next step is sending a photograph to an expert, along with as much information as possible — provenance is an important factor when determining value. In recent years, collectors have lost interest in ceramics but, as with Ozzie the owl, there are exceptions. Again, the internet is a useful tool in determining whether you need to contact an expert.

Whyte stresses that the condition of an item is key to its value, but recognises that being old and in good shape do not always go hand in hand.

Silver collecting is on the rise. It is best to look out for Irish silver from the 18th century, says Whyte. “You can find everything in silver — from ordinary salt cellars to unique items such as grape cutters and nutmeg grinders. Irish pieces are highly collectible at the moment.”

Militaria is also hugely popular, thanks to recent centenary commemorations. Since 2016, a plethora of medals relating to the 1916 Easter Rising have come across Whyte’s threshold. “Hundreds of Irish men fought in the Great War. Many never came back. They fought in Irish regiments such as the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Each man who served was awarded a set of three medals. If you look in old boxes they may turn up,” says Whyte.

Standard medal sets are worth about €200, whereas gallantry medals can make more than €500. Gold and silver coins from before 1945 are also something to look out for, with rare examples going for as much as €10,000.

When it comes to books, first editions with dust jackets are the most valuable. JRR Tolkien, James Joyce, Ian Fleming and JK Rowling are the most collectible authors.

Whyte says old bank notes often hide among the pages of old books but, on occasion, even rarer items may be lurking. In 1999, an original 1916 proclamation was discovered in one, and it was sold for €55,000. A few years later that same proclamation was sold again, this time for a staggering €180,000.

Egan and Ni Dhroighneáin’s treasures may not have brought them riches, but both say their discoveries were priceless in other ways.