Out & About Summer 2018

Out&About antiques

Iconic Designs One of the most well-known and recognised names in the antique furniture world is Gillows, whose name is synonymous with unique design and top-quality craftsmanship. Robert Gillow began making cabinets in 1731 and by the 1740s was importing mahogany from the West Indies and Jamaica. His unusual designs and finishes earned him a reputation as one of the best cabinet makers and he attracted a wealthy clientele. Gillows creations were innovative; they invented the extending telescopic dining table; the revolving-top library table; secretaire drawers; the Davenport desk; as well as the trou-madame, a ladies’ billiard table. Another recognised English furniture style is the 18th-century neoclassical-style designed by Thomas Sheraton. Sheraton took his inspiration from the Louis XVI style and notable features include round tapered legs and fluting, as well as contrasting veneer inlays. Sheraton used woods including satinwood and mahogany. He is best known for his cabinets, sideboards and small tables. He also used sycamore and rosewood for the inlaid decorations and sometimes used painted finishes, motifs and fittings as decoration.

Competition time The Great Antiques Pursuit

Would you like to join Thomas Plant in a hunt for bargains? If so, why not enter the Great Antiques Pursuit competition?

Out & About is looking for four enthusiastic teams of two to take part in The Great Antiques Pursuit. Thomas Plant and Neil Shuttleworth from Special Auction Services will head up four teams who will compete to buy antiques in a Bargain Hunt -style competition in Hungerford in early September. Just as you see on the TV, each team will be given money to make their purchases under the guidance of the experts Thomas and Neil, and the aim is to spend as little as possible and achieve the best possible profit at auction. The team whose lots make the most under the hammer wins. Any profits made will go to the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice. The competition winners will meet Thomas and Neil in Hungerford. The first two teams will hunt for bargains in antique shops, followed by the others. The items purchased will be entered into the Special Auction Services monthly sale in Newbury and once the lots have gone under the hammer, the winning team will be announced. Once the shopping is over, the teams meet up once again for a ‘show and tell’. The items will then be taken away to be photographed and catalogued for the auction. Thomas Plant says: “This competition is a regular fixture in our diaries and is always great fun. It is a great opportunity for us to meet some Out & About readers and there is often some friendly rivalry between the teams. “We are very much looking forward to doing it again and raising money for such a good cause.”

THOMAS PLANT is a regular on BBC’s Bargain Hunt, Flog it and Antiques Roadtrip as well as

director at SAS, which he has been running with Neil since 2006. He enjoys scouring antiques shops for good deals and likes nothing more than beating Neil in a competition.

NEIL SHUTTLEWORTH is Thomas’ business partner and a director of SAS. He’s a specialist in jewellery, watches, silver, antiques and fine art. He likes to drive a hard bargain, has a competitive edge (against

Thomas particularly) and he’s the main auctioneer at SAS, so he knows what sells. If you and a partner would like to take part, all you have to do is fill in the form and send it to Great Antiques Pursuit, Out & About , Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 RDW. The closing date for entries is Tuesday, July 24.

Great Antiques Pursuit competition

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