Kitty’s Headstone Sells for $383,000

A 1,000-year-old stone carving that spent years marking the grave of a couple’s pet cat was sold at auction Friday for more than $380,000.

The limestone carving of St. Peter was sold by Ruth Beeston, whose stonemason husband found it in a quarry.

Not realizing its value, the couple set it in their backyard in southwestern England to mark the resting place of their cat, Winkle. It was spotted by a local amateur historian, who guessed its age. Ruth Beeston decided to sell the piece after her husband died last year.

Alexander Cader, sculpture expert at auction house Sotheby’s, said the carving was from the 9th or early 10th century, “a rare survivor of English stone carving at its best.”

The stone slab drew lively bidding, finally selling to a private collector for $383,000, which included the buyer’s premium.

Cader said Beeston would be delighted.

“It was like winning the lottery for her,” he said. “We know for sure that she is going to be absolutely thrilled and I think she is planning a trip to Kenya.”