Unexpected Treasure: 285-Year-Old Lemon Sells for a Fortune at Auction
An ancient lemon discovered in a 19th-century cabinet fetched a record-breaking price, possibly the highest ever paid for any fruit.
(Photo illustration: Shutterstock)How much would you pay for a kilo of lemons at the grocery store? What's the most you'd spend on a unique lemon? And speaking of lemons, would you pay more than a dime for a spoiled lemon that’s 285 years old?
Recently, such a lemon was found inside a 19th-century cabinet at Bartles Auction House in the UK. The cabinet, inherited by a family from a recently deceased uncle, contained the peculiar lemon, which was then put up for auction.
The lemon intrigued auction attendees so much that it sold for an astonishing $1,786 (about 6,500 shekels). Additionally, the cabinet, previously purchased for $41, was sold for $1,805 at the same auction.
The first question that arose was how such an old lemon was discovered in a 19th-century cabinet. An expert photographing the cabinet suddenly found a “strange object” shaped like a rolling ball in one of the drawers. This sparked an investigation.
The second question was how there could be certainty about the lemon's age, dating back 285 years, and not merely a few years. It turns out the ancient lemon came with a mysterious message inscribed on it: 'Given by Mr. A. Baxter to Lady B. on November 4, 1739.' According to The Sun, it's believed to be an Indian lemon, brought to England as a gesture from Mr. Baxter to that woman.
In June this year, 33-year-old Justin Miller of Los Angeles sold a special sofa in a similar sale. He had bought the old sofa at a Beverly Hills yard sale for $50 (about 150 shekels). Beverly Hills, known for its luxury, can deem even such a sofa valuable. So, what did he do? After seeing a sale ad for the couch, he arranged for its pickup and got a tip from the homeowner: restore it and sell it for a higher price.
He went home, posted the couch on TikTok, and was astonished: it turned out to be a rare item by a Danish furniture designer, probably from 1935. Further investigation revealed the sofa was worth over $100,000 (between 360,000-500,000 shekels). After realizing he'd hit a "gold mine," he was advised to contact an auction house. He approached the well-known Sotheby's and sold it for a high price.
