1960s Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen photo discovered in Leighton Buzzard home, sold for £12,000 in auction, proceeds used for Alan Knowles's farewell.
A rare, original signed photograph by Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, discovered in a Leighton Buzzard home, sold for £12,000 at auction, 100 times its estimated value. The photograph was part of a collection by renowned photographers Graham Smith and Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen and belonged to Alan Knowles, who displayed it without realizing its value. The photograph was found by TV antiques expert and auctioneer Irita Marriott, who was invited by Alan's wife Helen and son Ben to search for hidden treasures to help cover care home fees for Alan, who had dementia. The proceeds from the sale will be used to give Alan a fitting farewell, as he passed away before the items went to auction. The story will be featured in an emotional episode of the series The Derbyshire Auction House.