A 55-year-old restorer has discovered a gilded sun ornament weighing 25 kilograms in a septic tank on his newly purchased estate in Radebeul, Saxony. The find, which once adorned the spire of a 19th-century villa, may be just the beginning of a hidden treasure hunt.
The property, Villa Kolbe, is a historic neo-Renaissance villa built in the 19th century. It was purchased by restaurateur René Kuhnt from the city last year with plans for a full renovation. The estate has a rich history, and Kuhnt was determined to restore it to its former glory.
His search began after an unexpected visit from an elderly man. – He gave me a hint that in 1945, before the Red Army invasion, many valuable things were hidden. Everything that glittered was hidden – said René Kuhnt. The tip set Kuhnt on a path to explore the grounds of his new property.
The tip that started the search
Kuhnt started his quest by probing the three‑meter‑deep sewage tank with a long stick. He felt a solid object at the bottom, about 60 centimeters deep in the waste. After careful retrieval, he pulled out a gilded sun ornament weighing 25 kilograms and measuring 80 centimeters in diameter. It turned out to be the finial once mounted on one of the villa’s spires.
The ornament is well‑preserved despite spending decades in the septic tank. According to local media, the piece was removed from the roof approximately 80 years ago, likely during the chaos of World War II. Kuhnt expressed his surprise and excitement at the discovery, saying he never expected to find such a pristine artifact in such a place.
Plans to search further
Kuhnt announced that his next step is to pump out the entire septic tank to check for more hidden items. – I hope to find more – he stated. He believes that the ornament was just one of many valuables hidden on the estate. The well‑preserved finial will soon be restored and placed back on the villa’s spire, returning a piece of its original architecture.
The discoverer also pointed out that there are other spots on the property where treasures could be concealed. He intends to search them systematically, following the same lead from the elderly visitor. The story has drawn attention to the villa’s history and the frantic efforts to hide wealth during the final months of the war.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Tag 24
