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Addisons Blog
Fancy a Canaletto for less than £100?
David Elstob
14 July 2010 How do you fancy having a framed Guardi or Canaletto hanging on your living room wall – possibly for less than £100 a piece? OK, before you start reaching for your cheque books or grabbing the phone, there is a catch – they are not actually by the original masters but I have them here in my office and you would be hard pushed to tell the difference. Lot 749: A large Biedermeier style satin birch and ebonised long chest of drawers – guide price £200-300 I think I’d better explain! We’ve just had a large number of modern art and prints delivered to us from a client who is clearing out their London and Manhattan apartments and amongst the collection are some copies after famous artists. We have figures in an Elysian landscape à la Claude; a Venetian canal scene in the manner of Canaletto; and the Doge’s Palace in Venice that looks as though it is fresh out of the studio of Guardi. I have to say they look very authentic and if you don’t believe me then have a look at them for yourself on our website: www. addisons-auctioneers.co.uk where they are listed in the next Antiques and Interiors Sale that takes place on Thursday 15 July. As if the paintings weren’t exciting enough – and there are around 40 separate lots to suit all manner of tastes – the same client has also sent in a wide range of good designer furniture, mirrors, pottery and lamps. I rather like the Biedermeier style satin birch and ebonised chest of drawers but there are also a couple of contemporary three-seater suede sofas complete with cushions, if modern is more your style. Lot 426: In the manner of Guardi, Doge’s Palace Venice, oil in a giltwood frame – guide price £60-80 Many of these items have very realistic guide prices (even big items like the sofas are valued at £100-£150) so if you are looking to furnish your home within a limited budget then bypass the high street; auctions like this are a very good place to look. And as someone who has just made their first brave move onto the property ladder I feel more than qualified to comment! Anyway back to setting up for this week’s sale and you never know I might just end up bidding on a Caneletto or two for my new flat…. Want to know more about Addisons? You can find out more about us, meet the team and get all the latest information about up-coming sales by visiting our ‘new look website’ – Just click here Don’t miss our regular e-zine If you’d like to receive news and information about Addisons directly to your in-box just click here
Protecting your collection - whatever it may be
17 June 2010
Whatever your interest might be – Pottery, guitars, vintage cars, anything – looking after your collection is hugely important. After all, not only does it often represent a huge financial outlay, but there is usually a huge sentimental value connected to it as well. Now, obviously, there are a number of things you can do to look after your collection, depending on what they are – writing an exhaustive list on this subject would not only be impossible, it would also be a very boring read – but are you covered if something does happen to your pride and joy? Worryingly, around 38% of Brits have no home insurance whatsoever, meaning that an already traumatic time can be made harder by the fact that your possessions aren’t protected – Imagine losing your home in a fire, then discovering that you’ve lost a prized piece forever as well. Those of us with insurance are not much better off, however – surveys done in 2005 found that 92% of Brits undervalued the contents of their house by a third – whereas the remaining 8% overvalued their property. Another question to consider is this: Is your collection, whatever it may be, correctly covered? Many insurers will consider an entire record collection as one single item, meaning that a reasonably meagre collection can soon fall foul of single item limits, meaning you’ll have to shell out for that complete Beatles discography should something ever happen to it. As an aside, it also well worth taking detailed photos of whatever it is you are looking to cover, to demonstrate that a) you own it and b) the condition the item was in before it was lost. This may seem extreme, but it can help to solve any disputes with insurers, as can getting your items properly valued by an accredited valuer at least once a year – that vase might have been worth £50 five years ago, but who knows what might have happened between now and then? It’s entirely understandable that most collectors don’t consider insurance – after all, if you’ve just added something to your haul, the last thing you want to consider is what would happen if it were damaged, but you should do. It’s cheap enough to make sure you’re properly covered (Often an extra pound or two a month), and can make recovering from a burglary or flood markedly easier. Burglaries rose in 2009, and with the country suffering near annual floods, it might be time you checked out your insurance, to make sure you’re covered properly.
Exciting new catalogue sale at Addisons! 27 May 2010 One of the things I really love about my job is that you never quite know what is going to come through the doors of the saleroom and each individual auction has its own unique collection of items. We are currently getting ready for our next big event which is the Fine Art and Antiques Catalogue Sale on Wednesday 9 June and everyone is rushing round valuing and cataloguing all the different pieces. This is always a very popular sale in the showroom calendar and we already have a bumper crop of entries. I am always amazed by the sheer variety of objects that make an appearance. For instance, this particular sale will include a beautiful 1898 Battle of Omdurman silver bowl, which is particularly exciting for those interested in military history. We always encourage people to bring things in for us to look at. Sometimes they have little idea of what they are worth and get a very pleasant surprise when we give them an estimate. Incidentally, this is a service that we offer free of charge and people are under no obligation to put things in the sale. We leave that decision entirely up to them.
There are also lots of fine paintings destined for the June sale. My favourite is a signed watercolour by the Cornish artist James George Philp entitled ‘Kelp Gatherers’. It’s probably because it reminds me of the sea, that beautiful part of the English coast and summer holidays, which thankfully aren’t too far off now! We have also got several fine pieces of furniture by that master of English oak, Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson. A feature of recent sales has been the rise in popularity of the work from this workshop and not only are we getting a lot of items for sale but they are also reaching very good prices. Fingers crossed for similar results this time. Oh well, back to all that cataloguing. An auctioneer’s lot is a busy one but at least I’m never bored! Addisons Auctioneers of Barnard Castle awaits special guest! 3rd March 2010
The reason I’m particularly busy at the moment is we’ve got a very special guest making an appearance in the auction room on March 17th. As you know, we’re no stranger to special guests at Addisons having previously entertained everyone from local dignitaries to antiques experts from BBC’s Antiques Roadshow! This special guest is a little different though. For starters, he’s less than a foot tall! The very special appearance in question is a bronze figure by the renowned French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) and let me tell you. . I think this is going to be one special guest that won’t be hanging around for long.
Originally created as a plaster by Rodin in 1888, the bronze cast was made after the artist’s death in a foundry in Paris. Widely recognised as one of the most important sculptors of the modern era, Rodin willed to the French state the right to make casts from his plasters, although French law limits reproduction to twelve casts – the maximum number that can be made from a plaster and still be considered the artist’s work. Needless to say, with such a special appearance imminent and a great number of interested parties expected through our doors I’ve got plenty to do. I was considering a miniature red carpet but maybe that’s taking things a little far. Don’t forget to look out for my next blog to find out the results from the sale.
9th February 2010
Hello everyone and welcome to the first blog post of 2010. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all – January was a pretty hectic month, plus we’ve had one or two IT ‘issues’ as the experts call it but I’m pleased to say normal service has now resumed! All in all, today has been my first opportunity this year to finally put finger to key so to speak.
As always it’s busy, busy, busy at Addisons. We’ve just had a very successful sale (Thursday 21st January) that had a bumper amount of lots. We were delighted that so many people managed to get over – having had to cancel the previous sale due to snow. I was bracing myself to get the snow chains out to provide a free taxi service. . luckily it didn’t come to that.
We also had our valuation day yesterday which went fantastically well, drawing a record crowd! Once again, we were delighted to have been joined by Susan Rumfitt from BBC’s Antiques Roadshow who was on hand to share her expertise on jewellery pieces and our resident chief auctioneer, Richard Edwards who provided his own broad expertise (and, I’m pleased to report, was sporting another particularly striking tie from his extensive collection). During the day we saw some beautiful pieces including a stunning diamond cocktail watch and some excellent portrait miniatures.
Ok, I think that’s enough from me for today – people to see, antiques to value etc etc. Don’t forget to join me for my next installment. 21st December 2009 Hello again from Addisons. I’m really pleased that a number of you have taken the time to tell us how much you are enjoying our regular blogs – stay tuned – there’s plenty more to come. Following on from my last post I’m pleased to say that the Fine Art Sale held on the 5th December was a great success, the most successful sale of the year in fact so a great way to end 2009. The surprise of the sale was a marine painting by Victorian artist John Warkup Swift which sold for seven times its original valuation.
As I mentioned in my last blog, there was also an impressive range of Mouseman pieces up for auction. These were divided into 14 separate lots and ranged from a set of book-ends (valued at £180-250 and eventually selling for a whopping £440) to cheese boards – although obviously we have to point out that placing cheese on a board containing a mouse could be asking for trouble and we can’t accept any responsibility for the loss of anyone’s vintage stilton!
I have a keen interest in all of the lots that pass through our showroom but have to say I enjoyed this event in particular – not just because it contained some of the finest examples of English craftsmanship but also because, as many of you will know, when I graduated with an MA in antiques earlier in the year my thesis was on the great works of Mousey Thompson.
Ok, I think that’s enough from me for today – we’re getting close to Christmas and I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping yet. It’s time to brave the shops to pick up a few things for my colleagues and maybe a turkey flavoured chew for Dede our resident Jackadoodle. It’s looking pretty chilly out there so I’d best wrap up warm – a scarf, gloves and maybe some auctioneer muffs perhaps! Have a great Christmas from all of us here at Addisons – don’t forget to come back in 2010 for more blogs. Jewellery, mice and waggy tails It’s all go here at Addisons. As I mentioned in my last blog we’re busy getting ready for a very special guest who’ll be attending a very special event in aid of a very special cause. . as you’ve probably guessed it promises to be quite special! On November the 27th we’ll be joined by Susan Rumfitt who all of you Antiques enthusiasts out there may know from the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow. Susan has very kindly agreed to give a jewellery talk entitled ‘Designed for Wearing’ as part of our charity private view in aid of the Butterwick Day Hospice. The event includes afternoon tea and you’ll be pleased to know that my baking marathon was successful and the scones came out a treat! (although a few of them went mysteriously missing – the chief suspect is Dede, our resident Jackadoodle, who I think may have decided to put herself in charge of quality control!) If you’d be interested in coming along there are still tickets available - e-mail me for more information at the click of a mouse! Speaking of mice, there’s just time to tell you a bit about the next Fine Art Sale which will be held on 5th December 2009 and will contain a number of pieces by the Mouseman of Kilburn. I’m currently dashing around getting all the pieces photographed for the Fine Art Sale Catalogue. If you’d like a copy of the catalogue prior to the sale I’d be more than happy to send you one. My first post! Addisons Antiques has never had a blog before but, in our quest to keep up with the times and shake off the stuffy stereotype seemingly bestowed on most auction houses, we thought it would be a great idea. There’s always plenty to report on from the Addisons auction house so I hope you’ll log on regularly. I was delighted to be asked to write the blog but I have to say that I’m new to all of this, so bear with me. I probably haven’t been this nervous since I recently held the unopened envelope bearing the results of my MA in Antiques – more about that later maybe. There was a time (not too long ago I’m told!) when antiques belonged to a world that was inevitably characterised by the past. For many, this was part of their attraction – a diversion perhaps from the stresses and strains of everyday life as well as the opportunity to have a personal ‘brush’ with history. But things are changing and Addisons is changing too. We live in a more ‘global’ community and now that we take online bidding at Addisons you can attend one of our auctions without even having to be there. We regularly have buyers ‘present’ from all over the world. At our last sale, a Russian Porcelain Egg was bought by a gentleman in New York and a beautiful George III Dining Table was sold to a buyer in the Netherlands who then drove all the way to Barnard Castle to collect it! Couch potatoes take note – you can now take part in a range of different auctions without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. It is an exciting prospect which opens up a host of buying opportunities for enthusiasts and collectors alike. Well, like technology, time waits for no man and I’ve got mountains to do. We’ve got a veryspecial guest from BBC’s Antiques Roadshow coming on Friday 27th November and I’ve drawn the short straw having been put in charge of baking the scones! Look out for more information about that in my next installment. |
Hello again from Addisons. Well, it’s busy, busy, busy as usual here at Addisons but I’m taking a five minute breather for a strong cup of tea, a slice of homemade walnut cake (thanks Mum!) and, of course, to catch up on a bit of blogging!
Depicting the Greek mythological character Polypheme, the 24.5cm high sculpture has been valued between £12,000 and £18,000 and will be included in our next Fine Art & Antiques Catalogue Sale on Wednesday 17th March at 10am.| Copyright ©2010 Addisons Auctioneers. All Rights Reserved. |