FAMILIES in Swindon have shown that cash really is in the attic as oriental items found stuffed away have fetched almost £250,000.

Four families living in and around Swindon have taken various items of oriental china and furniture to the Kidson-Trigg auction rooms in Highworth and have collectively made a quarter of a million pounds.

Charles Wells, director and auctioneer at Kidson-Trigg, said: “The last twelve months has seen an extraordinary rise in values in the Asian art market, the Chinese especially who have been buying back their heritage, a kind of Chinese take-away.

“The global financial downturn has not affected the art market as seriously as pundits first thought, with particular strength coming from mainland Chinese dealers, collectors and private individuals wishing to invest outside the world money markets.”

The items have included a collection of Chinese 18th and 19th century china that came from a home in Cricklade that made £42,000, a small collection of oriental hardwood furniture that was in storage near Wroughton that sold for almost £8,000 and a collection of jade which sold in three lots totalling £81,000.

This collection caused a bidding war with bids coming in from America and the Far East, but eventually they were sold to a specialist company in London.

The auction room currently has a small collection of jade from a local seller which is likely to make around £100,000.

Mr Wells said: “It is extraordinary what turns up in all types of homes, especially when the owners have no notion of the value – it is the case of ‘hidden treasures in the attic’ really changing people’s fortunes.”

For a free confidential appointment call Mr Wells on 01793 861000.