Auctioneer’s talk takes society on trip to China
A TOP auctioneer spoke to Rochdale Antiques Society about his efforts to set up trade links in China.
Jeremy Lamond of Halls Auctioneers in Shrewsbury visited Beijing as part of an Auctioneers Consortium which wanted to create an Antiques Trade Fair selling British antiques to the Chinese as well as Chinese artefacts.
Chinese auction houses were only set up in 1995 and whereas British auction houses research items to check their authenticity, the Chinese rely on ‘caveat emptor.’
They are far more interested in the brand and need a signature or logo to be shown somewhere on the article, even if it is a piece of Chippendale furniture or a painting.
Mr Lamond said the consortium soon discovered that business is done very differently in China when first meeting auctioneers via ‘fixers’ at a reception at the British Embassy in Beijing.
The President of Rochdale Antiques Society thanked Mr Lamond and announced the next meeting would be held on Wednesday, May 10, at 7.30pm in St Vincent’s Community Centre, Caldershaw Lane, when town centre hairdresser Greg Couzens, would be describing his detailed renovation of St Clement’s Old Vicarage. Visitors are welcome. Entrance is £4. For more information visit the society’s Facebook page or email rochantiquesoc@ hotmail.com.