Bidders hunt for bargains as TV auction visits Staffs
LOTS Of EXCITEMENT AS SHOW VISITS HANSONS’ BISHTON HALL
ANTIQUE enthusiasts were able to bag a bargain at auction as the BBC filmed a popular daytime television show in Staffordshire.
Bargain Hunt was filmed at Stafford’s Bishton Hall last Monday, with exciting lots going under the hammer.
The show is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and people travelled from all over the country to be at the auction.
Bidders were invited to a marquee in the grounds of Bishton Hall – a Grade Ii-listed building now home to Hansons Auctioneers.
Antiques expert Charles Hanson grabbed the gavel for a fast-paced auction to see if he could get the Reds or the Blues a profit.
Charles said: “It’s great we are able to host Bargain Hunt here at Bishton Hall in these difficult times – it’s the perfect setting. We’ve sold some wonderful Moorcroft pottery, exciting silver items and even an old children’s fire engine.
“Though my one desire in life is to say one million pounds – that’s something I’d really like to achieve in my career.”
Whilst none of the 517 lots at auction fetched quite that much, a pair of Royal Worcester blush ivory table lamps with two vases fetched £1,300.
At the far left of the marquee, the BBC filmed the contestants’ reactions to their items being sold.
The first Red Team had selected an Art Nouveau decorated lamp, a French 1950s pottery set of 17 items, and an early 20th century silver lipstick tube.
Angie Mckniff, 57, from Cornwall bought the pottery set for just £35.
She said: “I go to auctions every few weeks. We wanted to go on a break away and when we spotted the auction we decided to have a few days up here in Staffordshire.
“I really wanted to see Charles, and I’ve bought three lots from him, including one that the Red Team had picked out.”
The Blue Team opted for a 1950s Harrod’s cardboard hat box, which valuators had estimated to sell for £20-30. They also auctioned off a Victorian silver milk jug, which Charles said was the best he’d seen in a long time.
Their final item was an Edwardian copper easel photo frame. The team waited in the wings for the bids to roll in, alongside host Natasha Raskin-sharp and experts Ben Cooper and Kate Bliss.
Sue Cottiss, aged 71, from Stafford, bought an Edwardian Mappin and Webb plated lidded sauce tureen and a plated gravy boat for £15. The items were valued between £20 and £30.
She said: “I’ve been to Hansons auctions before and sold through
Hansons. We came to the fashion show last week and were invited along to the auction.
“I love watching Bargain Hunt so it’s great to see it being filmed. My items were a great price and I’m going to polish them and put them on my dining table.”
The second Red Team brought an early 20th century bottle by Howell and Davies and Co, as well as an Edwardian silver framed pin cushion made in Birmingham in 1901.
The most exciting item, though, was the 1950s children’s pedal fire engine – which sold for £130!
The team’s “Bargain Buy”, from Ben, was a 1930s cushioned vanity set complete with glass bottles.
This was bought at auction for £15 by the youngest bidder in the room, 10-year-old Callum, from Milton Keynes.
His mum, Amanda Butler, aged 48, said: “Callum is really interested in history and we thought it would be a great experience for him. He’s been having a tough time at school and Charles invited him to come along.
“Callum loved the look of the vanity case and had a lot of fun bidding on the piece. It’s great how cheap you can get some of the pieces at auction.” The second Blue Team to experience the auction brought along two Art Nouveau twin handled vases, an early 19th Century basket weave sauce boat stand, and a George V silver jewel casket made in London 1915.
You’ll have to watch the show to see which team won, who made a profit, and which item made the most money.