Our interest in collectables is still healthy despite a Covid-hit year
20TH CENTURY FURNITURE AND GOLD IN DEMAND
ACCORDING to the famous economist John Kenneth Galbraith there are two kinds of forecasters: ‘Those who don’t know and those who don’t know they don’t know’.
Hard to argue with that as we look back at the unforeseen nightmare that was 2020. For the record, in my New Year Review of the antiques market at this time last year I wrote: “2020 already looks like being a very exciting year indeed in our local auction rooms.”
An amazingly accurate prediction, although I must admit that the reality was not quite what I had in mind. The onset of the pandemic caused major disruption as salerooms closed their doors and auctions were cancelled but the region’s auctioneering firms staged a remarkably swift recovery, introducing socially-distanced viewing and switching to exclusively online or telephone bidding. The rooms may have been eerily empty on sale days but the webcast auctions were highly successful, joined by huge numbers of people around the country and indeed around the world.
Things that were pretty much on the money in our review last year were the predictions about likely antiques market trends. I wrote that the explosion of interest in collectables was showing little sign of slowing down and forecast that would continue throughout the year. It did.
Treasures from the most remarkable range of collecting fields – vintage toys, militaria, railwayana, classic vehicles, autographs, teddies, even old whisky and the rest – continue to surprise.
The most extraordinary change in the antiques market in the past decade has been that affecting furniture. The Georgian and Victorian periods are out (unless things are particularly special). It’s the 20th century that is in fashion with today’s buyers.
The most in-demand pieces include those made by Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson and his fellow ‘Yorkshire Critters’. Current values are quite astonishing. A few months ago I consigned some smaller Mouseman pieces to auction on behalf of a Brigg client. A nut bowl made £180, a cheese board went for £150 and an oak Mouseman ashtray sold for £70. Larger pieces such as dining tables, chair sets, dressers and the like are making literally thousands. Something else that’s had a stellar year is gold. Bullion prices hit an all-time high of $2,075 an ounce last year before easing back to $1,873 just before Christmas. Some forecasters are predicting that it could achieve new records this year – remember Galbraith!
All that has had an immediate impact in terms of the value of gold coins such as Sovereigns, Krugerrands and the like. It has also had an impact on the value of jewellery and the old jewellery box is a good starting point for anyone looking to raise a bit of cash after the Christmas spending spree. However, it is worth getting expert advice before parting with antique jewellery because at auction pretty or interesting or unusual pieces can often make way over simple bullion value. Strange times but we have to battle through. Speaking of which our valuation and probate services are continuing to operate, as is our house clearance support to families and executors. We’re doing valuations online or via telephone where we can and, of course, complying with pandemic safety measures when visiting properties.
Robert Horner is an independent local auctioneer and valuer based in northern Lincolnshire. He can be reached on 07970 126311 or at rjhbrodian@btinternet.com
The most extraordinary change in the antiques market in the past decade has been that affecting
furniture