I hope you’re set to enjoy a reasonably happy Easter – despite the lockdown – and I trust some chocolate comes your way.
Our lives are on hold right now as we battle this dreadful virus. It’s a strange situation for us all but I’m focusing on the positives. For example, it gives us time to do things we often put off for months, if not years.
My garden has never been neater and, as a keen collector of all types of objects, from pottery to old postcards, down time at home has given me an opportunity to sort out boxes, delve into my attic and, as many of you know, repurpose my garden shed.
It hosted what proved to be a very successful auction for the NHS on April 3. At the last count, it had raised £36,000 for Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity Covid-19 Appeal. This was thanks to continuing donations and a decision by Drew Pritchard of TV’s Salvage Hunters fame to double up his top selling lot.
Drew Pritchard’s lots raised £8,000 in the NHS auction broadcast from Charles Hanson’s shed.
A bidder paid £3,700 to enjoy a day out salvage antique shopping with Drew and, post-auction, the TV personality agreed to offer the same trip to an under bidder. Consequently, with the addition of selling one of his iconic caps, Drew’s lots alone bought in £8,000 for the NHS. What fantastic generosity from the Salvage Hunters’ star.
I had some marvellous feedback for the NHS auction from well-wishers and people who enjoyed the fun watching from home on Facebook, Twitter or hansonslive.co.uk. I tried to make it a show as well as an auction. My efforts to include stars who’d donated lots, including pop star Chesney Hawkes live from LA were, perhaps, a tad, ambitious but we got there in the end. Who knows, perhaps my garden shed and live broadcasts are the future!
I’m still buzzing from it all but as a man used to working 24/7, I’m desperate to get back to normal. To that end, I’d really like you to get in touch if I can help during this lockdown period.
I’m more than happy to talk antiques, do virtual valuations and get appointments booked into my diary. My jewellery and silver consultant colleague Kate Bliss is also keen to offer what ever advice she can during lockdown. You can email over images and information and we will do our very best to help.
It’s at times like this we often uncover gems and a little extra money gained from forgotten objects may be just what’s needed in 2020. Is that piece of jewellery costume or gold? Could that medal collection be worth a small fortune in one of our militaria sales? Could those old coins soar to sales success? Is that piece of porcelain highly collectable?
I’m fascinated by all types of objects and can advise and investigate further should your period in lockdown uncover some potential auction stars.
Nearly everyone has random treasures tucked away. Families sometimes lose them for long periods of time, only to rediscover them years later – and sometimes wonder what they are.
The letter from Florence Nightingale.
Coming up in our next library auction, date to be confirmed, is a random 121-year-old letter that had baffled our vendor for years. Why it had been kept for decade as a family heirloom was a mystery to him – until he brought it along to Hansons.
He said: “I’ve been looking through some boxes and came across this note from some woman talking about eggs.”
He handed the letter over to one of over experts, Adrian Stevenson, who replied: “Have you read the signature?”
The note about eggs was written by Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), founder of modern nursing and known as The Lady with the Lamp.
The original autograph letter in pencil, signed and dated March 6, 1899, on headed paper – 10, South Street, Park Lane. W. – said: ‘To the Aylesbury Dairy Co. Would you be so very good as to send me at once 6 eggs, if possible, laid this morning (or less than 6 if laid this morning) with the dark brown shells, for a gentleman very ill indeed, who fancies them – and to supply me with the same every morning for the gentleman who likes your eggs, & takes hardly anything. I will send them to him at once. Yours faithfully, Florence Nightingale. I shall be so much obliged to you.’
What a wonderful find, a letter from the UK’s most famous nurse aptly displaying her caring nature once again. This forgotten Florence Nightingale letter is going to auction with an estimate of £500-£600.
Talking of Easter and eggs leads me to chocolate and another find that gathered dust in a drawer for decades – a century-old box of chocolates. They were given to a little girl and never eaten because they were ‘too pretty’.
Eileen Margaret Elmes, who was born in London in 1907, loved the delicate chocolate figures so much she simply couldn’t bring herself to eat them.
She was given them around 1910-1915 and still had them when she died at the age of 99 in 2007. The box of Little Red Riding Hood Pascall’s Chocolate Novelties went on to sell at auction, to a Derby woman, for £230. A little reminder never to take sweet treats for granted!
Keep In Touch
Any lockdown discoveries? Coins gathering dust in a drawer, toys treasured from childhood, old football programmes or a famous autograph? What I have learned is never to judge a book by a cover. Whatever your object, I would love to see it. Let’s talk antiques, make a date for a free home visit valuation or discuss Hansons’ house clearance and downsizing services. Email [email protected] or call 07725 514855.
