Liz Winnicott

We peek into the busy working life of executive director and head of valuations at the west London auction house Chiswick Auctions

An accountant by training, I was a latecomer to the auction world. It all began 15 years ago when I had small children and worked for the St Mary’s Hospice shops in Birmingham. To get the best prices I put some items into auction and found the process exciting and interesting, which led me to take an MA in arts market appraisal at Kingston University.

After the MA I joined a Birmingham saleroom, starting from the bottom up and learning how to value, put sales together and auction with a gavel. Next, I decided to train in gemology – the world of antique jewellery is wonderful! I studied early in the morning while my son went to swimming sessions. My favourite pieces are Scandi jewellery of the 1940s and 1950s, which I collect, and I’m fascinated by the history of the diamond in jewellery, from pre- Georgian times to the present day.

I joined Chiswick Auctions two years ago and still feel that every day is a learning day – we have such breadth as a saleroom, covering everything from European and Asian art to jewellery, silver and furniture. I run 12 interiors sales and three 20th- century design sales a year and most days I’m out visiting clients to value things for probate, insurance and auction purposes.

I get to visit some eminent private collections and fabulous houses, such as the studio of a late artist in Chiswick Mall where I found hundreds of works of art in plan chests as well as antique furniture and pots of brushes – we hope to be offering some of the collection soon. Recently I did a job in Eaton Square, valuing mirrors and rugs, furniture, art and glass that had belonged to a Bostonian lady; before the sale we showcased it all in a room set, which looked lovely. Two bidders went bonkers over a broken 17th- century Norwegian silver peg tankard with a hole in it – it was valued at £1,000–£2,000, but eventually went for £14,000. An exciting day!

020 8992 4442; chiswickauctions. co.uk

RIGHT An early 20thcentury American silver and glass vase was one of Liz’s favourite items from the collection of a Bostonian lady, who lived in Eaton Square. It made £850 (est £500–£800). Liz sold this 1960s Shell chair, designed by Grete Jalk for Paul Jeppesen, for £11,000 (est £3,000–£5,000).