Featuring in the same two-day auction as a £7000 cache of Beatrix Potter ephemera found in a Cumbrian Victorian villa which had made national headlines, this less-heralded sofa impressed at 1818 Auctioneers (17.5% buyer’s premium).

Extracted from Antiques Trade Gazette | Terence Ryle

The 6ft (1.83m) wide sofa was catalogued as “an Edwardian Chesterfield style settee having floral upholstery, on tapered legs. Needs re-upholstery, springs seem OK” and pitched at £70-100.

A closer look revealed one leg was stamped for the high-quality and in-demand firm of Howard & Sons. It had been in the villa since new: the original fabric was visible under the later chintzy cover. It sold to a UK buyer via thesaleroom.com at £4400.