A 55-year-old man has discovered a gilded sun-shaped ornament weighing 25 kilograms in a septic tank on the grounds of a property he recently purchased. The find, measuring 80 centimeters in diameter, appears to be just one of several treasures hidden on the estate.
The discovery was made at Villa Kolbe, a 19th-century neo-Renaissance villa in Radebeul, Saxony. The historic building, rich in history, caught the attention of restaurateur René Kuhnt, who bought it from the city last year and plans to renovate it.
According to Kuhnt, his search was prompted by a visit from an elderly man. – He gave me a tip that in 1945, before the invasion of the Red Army, many valuable things were hidden. Everything that glittered was hidden – he said.
Search began in a three-meter-deep sewage pit
Kuhnt started his search in a sewage tank located three meters below ground. – I probed the sewage canal with a long stick and hit something – he recounted. The gilded ornament, which turned out to be the finial from one of the villa’s spires, was found in the tank, which was only 60 centimeters deep. The well-preserved piece is set to be restored and placed back on the roof, where it was removed about 80 years ago.
More treasures likely hidden on the property
The 55-year-old plans to pump out the septic tank in hopes of finding additional items. – I hope to find more – he said. Kuhnt also pointed out there are other spots on the estate where valuables could have been concealed, and he intends to locate them.
The ornament, made of gilded metal, survived decades in the sewage tank largely intact. Local authorities have been informed, and the restoration process is expected to begin shortly. The villa, once a prominent landmark in Radebeul, is gradually being brought back to its former glory by its new owner.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
