Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
A jewelled golden hare, which captivated the nation in a 1979 treasure hunt, is set to go under the hammer for the first time in almost 37 years, with an estimated value of £15,000 to £20,000.
The necklace was inspired by Jack Hare, the central figure of Kit Williams’ picture book Masquerade, which became a publishing sensation not only for its exquisite pictures and charming story but the clues it contained to locate the artefact Williams’ had created and buried.
The book became a publishing phenomenon, not only for its enchanting illustrations and story but for the intricate clues it contained, leading readers to the real-life artefact Williams had created and buried.
The narrative followed Jack Hare on a quest to deliver treasure from the moon to the sun, depicted through a series of oil paintings.
Artist and author Williams, alongside former University Challenge presenter Bamber Gascoigne, secretly interred the 18-carat gold jewel in the English countryside of Bedfordshire in 1979.
It was placed near a cross-shaped monument dedicated to Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII. The "Masquerade Hare," adorned with gemstones, was concealed within a terracotta casket bearing the inscription: "I am the keeper of the jewel of the Masquerade, which lies waiting safe inside me for you… or eternity."
The location of the necklace, originally valued at £5,000, could only be deciphered by solving a complex series of riddles embedded within the book. While two physics teachers from Manchester correctly solved the clues in 1982, the treasure had already been claimed by another searcher.
It later emerged that this individual had received an approximate location through a connection with Williams’s former girlfriend.
The hare subsequently vanished from public view after being acquired by an anonymous overseas buyer in the late 1980s, remaining in a private collection until 2009.
That year, Williams was reunited with his handmade amulet for a BBC Four documentary, The Man Behind The Masquerade, after producers traced the owner to Egypt.
Crafted in 1978 as Williams finalised his book, the Masquerade Hare features a distinctive ruby eye and intricate depictions of a rodent, bird, and frog.
It will be offered in Sotheby’s London Fine Jewels Sale, an online auction concluding on Friday, November 28.
Other notable items in the sale include Elizabeth Taylor’s turquoise cuff, estimated at £5,000 to £7,000, and a diamond and imitation pearl necklace once owned by author Dame Barbara Cartland.
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