Clay pigeon shooting, horse riding and fishing are popular across Derbyshire and that wealth of rural tradition is something I’m keen to celebrate in the auction world, writes Charles Hanson.
I grew up on a small Derbyshire farm, love the great outdoors and enjoy rural events in my home county such as Ashbourne Show and Chatsworth Country Fair.
Country pursuits have always played an important part in Hansons’ monthly auctions and will do so again in October, so do you own something that might gallop to auction glory?
One quirky object I recall, above, is a century-old horse’s hoof honouring trusty steed Bunchie, who lived from 1899 to 1924. The devoted owner had a single hoof crafted into a storage compartment, with the horse’s name and lifespan engraved on the lid.
All types of equestrian-related items and taxidermy fall into the country pursuits category. However, more familiar territory for many readers will be angling.
The keen fishermen – or women – among you will be aware of the name Hardy, a company famous for its high-quality fishing tackle.
The Hardy story began in 1873 when William Hardy and his brother John James launched a business as gunsmiths, whitesmiths and cutlers.
By 1874 an advert in Northumberland’s Alnwick Mercury listed rods, reels, salmon, lake and trout flies, baits, other angling goods rod building and repair services – a comprehensive range to fulfil the needs of the angler. This expansion proved profitable and enduring. The company’s headquarters remain in Alnwick.
At first the Hardy brothers brought in most of the tackle they sold but, to maintain quality, a decision was made to open a factory.
Hardy’s promotional techniques were impressive. They highlighted tournaments won and royal warrants awarded to the company. The names of the products were well chosen, too. In the 1890s you could fish with an Ideal rod, to which you attached a Perfect reel, while your feet were protected by Invincible brogues.
While Hardy is mostly associated with tackle for game fishing and, within that, fly-fishing in particular, tackle was made for other branches of the sport.
Hardy rods, reels and accessories for fly-fishing, spinning, coarse fishing and sea fishing have passed through our saleroom. A good example is a Hardy ‘The Super Silex Multiplier’ reel. Made in the 1930s, it demonstrates development in reel design with the addition of gearing to increase the speed of line retrieval. This innovation came decades before the invention of the Multiplier reel anglers are familiar with today.
The reel impresses thanks to the quality of engineering and finish. Such was the pride taken in reel manufacture, the men who made them stamped their initials inside. An example Hanson’s was sold built by Robert Marshall Scott, who worked for Hardy from 1916 to 1967.
Another area to reel in bidders is the aforementioned taxidermy. It is a vibrant collectors’ market, a fact underlined earlier this year when a secret hoard of taxidermy birds and animals found in a Worcestershire loft, part of an extraordinary Victorian/Edwardian collection, sold for more than £11,000.
The late Kevin Gittoes amassed taxidermy over decades but his wife, Julie, didn’t realise the extent of his collection until after he passed away in August 2021. She discovered 12 cased animals hidden in the loft and the garage housed many more examples.
The top-selling item was lot 36, an Edwardian cased full mount fox which reached £850. Also sought after was lot 14, an Edwardian cased full mount Otter, by T E Gunn, 89 St Giles Street, Norwich, £520; lot 64, a baboon (Papio ursinus) shoulder mount, 20th century, £640, and lot 66, an African lion (Panthera leo), head mount on shield, early 20th century, £541.
Free valuations/consignments
If you wish to consign an item into Hansons’ October Country Pursuits Auction, entries are invited until September 30. To arrange a free valuation with Hansons’ country pursuits valuer Derrick Hale please email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
Derrick, who also values musical instruments, hosts free monthly valuation events, by appointment, at Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire. Dates include September 2, October 7, November 4 and December 2, 10am-1pm. Firearms and weapons valuations with Robert Nettleton will also be available at Etwall Auction Centre on September 9, 10am-1pm. To book, call 01283 733988.
