Kyffin Williams sketches found in drawer

CARDIFF, Wales, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- A Welsh library is blocking an antiques dealer from selling an artist's sketches and personal effects, which he found hidden away in a chest of drawers.

John Williams bought the mahogany George III chest, which belonged to artist Kyffin Williams until he died last year at the age of 88, at an auction in Bath, The Times of London said Tuesday.

John Williams planned to sell several items found in a hidden drawer in the chest at auction next weekend, however, he has withdrawn them after the National Library of Wales took out an injunction preventing him from doing so.

The library claims it is the rightful owner of the cache since Kyffin Williams had bequeathed his papers and artworks to its collection.

"I noticed the secret drawer, but I didn’t make much of it because we didn’t want other bidders to realize it was there," John Williams said. "Everyone else missed it. I was amazed when I got the chest home."

In addition to sketches, the drawer also contained letters and personal items, such as cufflinks, buttons from his Royal Welch Fusiliers jacket, sunglasses and oil paints, the Times said.