A collection of antique silver found by chance in a family’s attic in Edinburgh has sold for nearly £60,000 at auction.

More than 100 silver items, dating from the early 1700s to the early 1900s, had been expected to fetch up to £23,000 when they were offered for sale at Elmwood’s auctioneers in London.

Members of the selling family, who do not want to be named, found the items inside dusty chests, having been packed away for nearly a century.

A spokesman for them said: “We’re thrilled with the outcome and completely overwhelmed by the response to the collection.”

They added: “What began as an unexpected discovery while clearing the family home has turned into an extraordinary journey.

“It’s wonderful to know these pieces, which lay hidden for so many decades, have found new homes with people who will appreciate their history and craftsmanship.”

The family had previously said they made the discovery when clearing out their mother’s home, which has been with the same family for generations.

Different members of the family are thought to have added to the collection throughout the years, but knowledge of it faded in more recent times.

The objects, which sold for a total of £59,761, vary from a Victorian travelling shaving brush by pioneering silversmith Frances Douglas to an Imperial Russian tankard and an Edwardian jewellery box.

The most expensive part of the collection was Lot 15 – a set of fine Danish vintage cutlery, which sold for £5,200.

The collection was discovered carefully packed inside several dust-covered wooden chests and wrapped in old newspapers and linen.

Other items included tea services, candlesticks, salvers and presentation pieces.

Joe Kendrick, head of sale at Elmwood’s auctioneers, said: “We knew this was a special collection from the moment we first examined the pieces from the chests, but today’s result exceeded even our expectations.

“Achieving £59,761 against a pre-sale estimate of £23,000 demonstrates the enduring appeal of fresh-to-market collections with exceptional provenance.

“Bidders responded not only to the quality and rarity of the silver, but also to the remarkable story behind its discovery after almost a century hidden away in an Edinburgh attic.

“It has been a privilege to bring these pieces back into the public eye and to see them begin a new chapter with collectors around the world.”