Out & About October 2017

Janita and Brian with Neil

An iridescent green Art Nouveau Loetz glass jug caught their eye and we estimate that it will fetch £100-£150. A pair of well-designed, triangular 1950s silver candleholders made in Birmingham in 1959 could fetch £80-£120.

Enthused after our first buying spree, Neil and I couldn’t wait to get going again and see which bargains we could help our teams snap up. Janita and Brian agreed on a group of three Victorian and Edwardian bone fans, two of which have painted designs on silk and the other on lace, which were a lovely choice and we expect them to fetch in the region of £120-£150. They also selected three late Meiji period cloisonné jars and covers – two spherical and one of squat form – which they hope will sell for £100-£150.

with gilt spelter pheasant, which we have estimated at £60-£100. As always, we had great fun and Neil and I would like to give a huge thanks to everyone at the Hungerford Arcade for all their help and support and to the newly-refurbished Three Swans for looking after us. The auction will take place on Tuesday, November 7 at 10am in Saleroom Two, Special Auction Services (SAS), 80 Greenham Business Park, RG19 6HW. If you have spotted something you would like to try and buy, why not come along and bid on the

For their third lot, they went vintage and picked a 1950s beech and canvas child’s folding chair (estimate £30- £50) that could be used today for a camping trip or day at the beach. Paul and Christine were flying high with their choice of six aircraft instruments, including a speed and a climb indicator that date from the Second World War and which they hope will make £150-£250 at the auction.

Sarah and Moya with Neil

In addition, they picked some lovely pieces; an Art Deco chromed owl car mascot, a silver, meerschaum and amber cheroot holder in a case, a small German silver beaker and a silver-plated and enamelled sugar lifters with Celtic design, which will all be sold as one lot, with an estimate of £80-£120. It was then on to the next set of teams – this time in the form of husbands and wives – Janita and Brian Thomas with me versus Paul and Christine Kinsman with Neil.

We estimate that the beautiful mid-19th century burr walnut tea caddy with a pair of lift out tea boxes will fetch in the region of £80-£120 at auction. Finally, they chose a striking Art Deco clock

Thomas with Judith and Owen

items, as all profits go to the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service in Berkshire, which is a fantastically worthwhile charity that both Neil and I are ambassadors for.

If you’ve any jewellery, antiques and collectables you’d like valued for auction, don’t forget SAS hold free valuation days every Wednesday at: Saleroom Two, 80 Greenham Business Park, Newbury, RG19 6HW. Telephone 01635 580 595 for an appointment. www.specialauctionservices.com

Thomas Plant discovered his love for auctioneering at a young age, living on the family farm. Watching the man with the gavel at local cattle auctions was a regular event, and Thomas quickly decided on which side of the rostrum he’d rather be. He went on to take a degree in antiques and served his apprenticeship with leading auction houses, including Christie’s in London. Today, Thomas is the co-owner of Special Auction Services in Newbury and is also a favourite TV expert on BBC programmes, including Bargain Hunt, Flog it! and Antiques Road Trip .

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