Masquerade Golden Hare Sells for £82,550 at Auction

The Masquerade treasure, a meticulously crafted 18-carat gold hare, has resurfaced in public view after selling for £82,550 at Sotheby’s. Created by artist Kit Williams as part of a famed puzzle book, the piece triggered a worldwide hunt that fascinated puzzle fans and art lovers alike.

How the mystery began

In 1979, the hare was buried in Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire, inside a terracotta container and sealed with wax to foil metal detectors. Williams placed the jewel, once valued around £5,000, with television presenter Bamber Gascoigne as the only witness.

The Masquerade book used cryptic clues to point to the hiding spot, drawing seekers from across the globe. The hunt culminated in 1982 when the hare was finally uncovered.

The hare, nicknamed Jack, sits with a ruby eye and turquoise flowery motifs built into its design. It had previously sold for £31,900 in 1988 and remained with the same family since then.

The treasure was buried inside a terracotta casket and sealed with wax to avoid metal detectors. Throughout the years, members of the public wrote letters and called Williams seeking tips on the treasure’s location.

Williams afterwards toured the United States as the book’s popularity grew; one promotional program offered travelers shovels and maps as part of a ten-day Masquerade Treasure Tour across Britain.

The man who finally found the hare used a pseudonym, later identified as Dugald Thompson, and insisted on remaining publicly anonymous, interviewed only from behind a screen. Later reporting connected him to Williams’s former partner, stirring controversy about the hunt’s hidden ties.

The hare’s body features floral motifs in turquoise, and its ruby eye adds a striking focal point. It was already a vintage piece in 1988 and has remained in the same family since then.

Williams says the current owners have acted as generous guardians, agreeing to display the Masquerade Jewel publicly at venues like the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Sydney Opera House. He adds that Jack’s next leap remains a mystery, fueling ongoing curiosity about its future location.

Before the sale, auction experts estimated a far more modest price range, but the final result surprised many. Sotheby’s head of fine jewellery noted a steady bidding process that quickly escalated into a fierce auction, with the winning bid coming from a private collector based in the United Kingdom.

Expert insight

Expert opinion: Jewelry historian Dr. Lisa Hart calls the Masquerade project a rare blend of art, mystery, and audience participation, creating lasting appeal beyond a single sale.

Summary

Summary: The Masquerade hare has journeyed from a cryptic book to a high-profile auction, drawing collectors and mystery enthusiasts worldwide. It sold for £82,550 to a British buyer, underscoring enduring interest in puzzle-inspired art. The story continues to fuel discussion about value, curation, and public engagement with art.

The Masquerade treasure shows how storytelling, art, and puzzles can unite fans worldwide and create lasting cultural value.

BBC article