Jenner-Fust said the homeowners were “quite surprised” by the discovery, who had been “blinded by familiarity” after seven decades.
“They had no idea it was marble, no idea who it was by, and no idea it was so valuable,” he said.
Jenner-Fust urged others to “be extra careful” when clearing out older homes, “to make sure you don’t throw anything out that could be very important”.
“It’s a bit like a treasure hunt. You never really know what you’re going to find next, and that’s the thrill of the chase,” he added.
“It also gives us a bit of comfort as auctioneers that there are still things out there, waiting to be discovered.”