A COTSWOLDS resident who found a set decorative pottery wall tiles in a loft was going to hang them in the garden… but after finding out how much they are worth they’ll be sold at an antiques auction in Cirencester.

The man was persuaded by his wife to take the eight red and cream pottery tiles – decorated with animals – to a charity antiques valuation day run by auctioneers Moore Allen & Innocent.

Valuer Philip Allwood quickly identified the tiles as being by the Victorian ceramicist William De Morgan, whose work was popular with William Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement, and whose international clients included the Czar of Russia.

“He was my last customer of the day,” said Philip. “I was just packing up after a busy day valuing – and I’m glad we caught each other!”

The circa 1880 tiles, which each measure 15cm by 15cm, will be offered for sale at Moore Allen & Innocent’s Selected Antiques Sale on Friday, October 28.

The eight tiles – featuring an antelope, boar, kingfisher and fish, dodo, feline and young, otter and fish, quail, and an eagle and fish – each carry an estimate of £200 to £300.

Items including pictures, figures and jewellery were identified and valued in exchange for a donation to The Nelson Trust, a Stroud-based charity which helps drug and alcohol abusers to recover from their addictions.

Among the other antiques examined by Philip were a Victorian charm bracelet with nine carat charms, valued at £500 to £800, and a circa 1900 shell cameo brooch valued at between £100 and £150.

The valuation day was held at Beecham Lodge, a new development of 35 one- and two-bedroom luxury retirement apartments at Somerford Road, a mile outside Cirencester.