Island Life June July 2015 June July 2015 | Page 46

ANTIQUES

HRD Auction Rooms

talks antiques

Warren
Riches:
Ask an expert!

H

Antiques
for

everyone

A

ntiques for Everyone is the name of a very successful
antique fair held at the NEC in Birmingham, but it should
also be adopted as a wider rule of thumb to dispel any
image of elitism which can be conjured up by the world of
antiques and collectables.
Ask someone who has never been to an auction house what
their image of it might be, and the answer would likely be
along the lines of “a stuffy place which wouldn’t have anything
to interest me”. Ask the same question regarding an antique
shop and you might hear “I couldn’t afford anything they would
sell”. It is vital that we sweep away these ideas and open the
doors to a world from which so many people are excluding
themselves. Although it is quite true that some salerooms and
antique dealers only trade at the stratospheric end of the price
spectrum, it is also true that the majority offer pieces to suit all
pockets and tastes. They also sell the quality, craftsmanship and
skill of a bygone era.
So pay a visit to your local saleroom, antique shop or fair, and
do not feel that you have to tipto e around and speak in hushed
tones. Admire the beauty and workmanship on display, discover
the treasures hidden amongst the ‘brown furniture’ and take
home a piece of history.

The Auction Rooms, Quay Lane, Brading, PO36 0AT
Telephone: [phone]
46

www.visitilife.com

aving just had three sales in with some of the
nicest antique firearms, I thought some history
and tips for the beginner might be useful.
The history of firearms is one of continuous evolution
and development. The centuries-long arms race which
started in earnest in the 16th century has left the modern
collector with a wealth of material to choose from.
The earliest collectors
of firearms were
probably monarchs
who also became
patrons, employing
expert craftsmen to
create better and more
powerful weapons, as
well as commissioning elaborately decorated guns that are
rightly considered works of art in their own right.
This is a field where even the crudest military weapons will
have their devotees and rare examples of special technical
interest can command high prices. It is the almost limitless
range of variations which fuels the market in antique guns.
If you intend to be a collector of say, 19th century
English sporting guns, you can still build up an excellent
collection by paying prices in the low thousands and there
are other niche markets where enthusiasts can build a
collection even more cheaply.
Above is a picture of a rare Rigby of Dublin Pepperbox
pistol, that Island Auction Rooms just sold to a Dutch arms
collector for £5,500.

Auction report

M

ay auctions provided a wide range of lots for Island
Auction Rooms. From a garage in a deceased
estate came two stars, a 1960 MGA Sports car in really
good condition, and a classic 1970s Mini which was
ex-rally material. Together they netted over £29,000 and
both of them sold to mainland enthusiasts, one via the
live internet bidding platform. Other strong areas were
jewellery, with diamonds proving to be a girl’s best friend,
including a vintage spray brooch selling for £1,900, and a
diamond bracelet for £2,400.
A vintage travel trunk sold for £1,200 and a vintage
Rolex watch stormed away for £2,900. Island Auction
Rooms is now accepting consignments for it’s Specialist
Cowes Week sale that they hold in Cowes. Give them a
ring on 01983 863441 to enter your items.