THE VOICE of Children’s favourite Larry The Lamb half a century ago, Lady Duncan of Jordanstone was also the owner of a fine stately home.

With her death in late 2003 aged 94, Lady Duncan left behind an estate worth over £3 million, including the B-listed Jordanstone House, near Alyth.

The house—itself on the market with an asking price of £1.25 million—housed a treasure trove of antiques, fine paintings and books, which will be sold by Edinburgh-based auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull at the end of the month.

Gathered by Lady Duncan and in particular her late husband Sir James Duncan, who was a great patron of the arts and founder of Dundee’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, the collection is expected to raise in the region of £800,000.

Among the most prized items is an early 18th century Brussels tapestry by Jasper Van der Borght, entitled Feast Of The Continents, valued at up to £90,000.

Also included among the treasures are silverware and ceramics, paintings, furniture and carpets.

However, perhaps the most exciting discovery for Lyon Turnbull’s auctioneers was the house’s long forgotten library.

Within, they found an extensive collection of books dating from the mid-17th century.

“Words failed me as I blew fifty years of dust from the covers of one of the finest libraries in a private home in Scotland,” said John Sibbald, book specialist for Lyon and Turnbull. “Many of the books have lain untouched since the day they were purchased by Sir James Duncan.”

Among them are a Bible dating from 1658, and a set of five beautifully engraved poetical works of John Milton.

There is also a collection of British bird books, commissioned by the Dukes of Sutherland, with some, including the three volumes of Gray’s Genera Of Birds, valued at around £8000.

Lady Duncan, known as Dodo to her family and friends, had a colourful and unusual life, starting her extensive career with the BBC, becoming the first voice of Larry The Lamb, favourite of BBC Radio’s Children’s Hour.

Educated in Ireland she embarked on a career on the stage, first at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. It was during this time that she married her first husband, Major Philip Blair Oliphant of Blairgowrie.

She later married Sir James Duncan of Jordanstone and accompanied him on his political and business journeys around the world.

Viewing of the contents of Jordanstone House begins on Saturday, while the sale itself takes place at Jordanstone House on Wednesday.