Out & About October 2017

OA antiques

Great antiques pursuit – the shopping trip

Four pairs of winners spent the morning in Hungerford recently picking out bargains at the Arcade to be auctioned for charity in November. THOMAS PLANT helped two of the couples find their potential winning lots for this hotly-contested challenge, while business partner Neil Shuttleworth guided two others to see if they could do better

Pictures: Phil Cannings

I t was a real family affair at this year’s Great Antiques Pursuit and Neil and I had a fantastic day meeting the winners and having a little competition between ourselves. All of the featured lots will go under the hammer at Special Auction Services on Tuesday, November 7, so come along and bid on the lots – as all profits go to our chosen charity, and there may also be other things that tempt you in the auction. First to go head-to-head were Moya Tong and daughter Sarah Brooks, who were accompanied by Neil, and mother and son team Judith and Owen Palka who were with me. Moya and Sarah bought a lovely variation of pieces, which have the prospect of leading them to victory. After much deliberation, they chose a late Victorian mahogany butler’s tray with a walnut stand, which we have given an estimate of £100-£200 and a pair of interesting late 19th- century Asian carved hardwood stirrups that are possibly Mongolian or Tibetan, which we have estimated at £100-£200, but these could be ones to watch… The cherry on top for them could be the lovely Art Deco Gouda pottery charger, decorated with flowers, expected to fetch £40-£60. Judith and Owen certainly had an eye for a bargain and we enjoyed scouring the shelves to find what, they hope, will be the winning lots. 

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