Animal lover Ann O’Connor had kept out of her sight an inherited rhino horn carving but after a visit to the Antiques Roadshow when it came to Saumarez Park, she auctioned it for the benefit of Save the Rhino – and made a lot more than she expected. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0892628)
THE slaughter of a rhinoceros in the 19th century may not have been in vain.
When animal lover Ann O’Connor inherited a horn carving in 2001 she found it repulsive and hid it under the stairs.
But when the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow came to Saumarez Park in June, curiosity got the better of her and she took it along.
She was told it was worth between £15,000 and £20,000.
Last month, the full-tip libation cup sold at a Bonham’s Asian art auction for £15,000 and Miss O’Connor plans to donate the proceeds to the Save the Rhino charity.
‘I went to the roadshow after work. Someone must have spotted it and I was picked out from the queue,’ she said. ‘The carving was taken away and then somebody came back and said they wanted to film me.’
Miss O’Connor, 55, who works as a receptionist for a finance firm, was made up and put at a table in front of programme expert George Archdale. Then the cameras rolled.
‘He asked me how much I thought it was worth,’ said Miss O’Connor.
‘I remember I was going to say about 7s 6d, but I didn’t want to show my age.
‘I think I ended up saying £1 or £2, or maybe £100, and then he said it was a good job I was sitting down.’
Miss O’Connor had feared that her grandfather, who died in 1966, had shot the rhino, which would have made it worse for her, but Mr Archdale said the animal would have pre-dated him.
After the sequence was filmed, someone approached Miss O’Connor and asked her if she had considered having the Chinese carving of a sheath of fennel and lotus leaves auctioned.
She eventually met Save the Rhino director Cathy Dean in London and agreed to auction the item for the cause.
By the time fees were taken out Miss O’Connor received about £13,860 but said she would make up the extra to ensure the conservation charity gets the full £15,000.
Miss O’Connor has agreed to take part in the next London Marathon to raise money for Save the Rhino. She has a place guaranteed provided she pays £25 and can ensure that the charity will get at least £1,250 from her efforts.
She said the last time she did anything resembling physical effort was when she completed her fifth Church to Church Walk in the 1970s.
She has started training with help from the Guernsey Marathon Club.
Miss O’Connor is keen to attract sponsorship and hopes to set up a link on www.savetherhino.org so donations can be made.
Article posted on 23rd December, 2009 - 2.29pm
2 Article Comments
I wonder if there are 2 such items in the island? I was at Bonhams about a month ago & there was something the same that failed to attract a bid & that was also from Guernsey… I wonder if these 2 items are linked? Interesting me thinks….
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Well Glad for the receiver of the cash for that article: more than pleased she is donating it to wildlife.
But disgusted with the Heading;
“That might not have been in Vain–”
The killing of wold life for gain or sport is wicked and should be punished by law.
The only time it should be lawful is if it attacks and kills people; although invariably it is the human to blame.
Disgusting headline.
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