Farmers reap what they sow in the world of auctions. Their hard work and dedication fascinates many people, and that has an impact on almost every sale we witness.
What may surprise you is how agriculture’s influence manifests itself when it comes to lots under the hammer. We see everything from antique farmhouse furniture to horse saddles, ceramic farm animal figures to sporting guns.
And then there’s the romantic aspect, yes really! Farm and barn-inspired weddings have become popular. In fact, some farms have reinvented themselves to accommodate celebrations.
Brides who plump for this rustic theme are keen to snap up farming paraphernalia to make their big event stand out from the crowd. A perfect addition for a rural wedding cropped up in a recent sale, a vintage brass milk churn marked ‘Birmingham Co-op Society’ and ‘Cadbury’s’. It sold for £45, a small price to pay for an eye-catching piece of farming equipment.
And though it may seem odd to see a milk churn used for decorative purposes it’s good to see unwanted objects gain a new lease of life. Auctions are the ultimate green business, constantly recycling items no longer required.
Farming objects have been desirable for several years, and not just for weddings. They’re often used as decorative pieces for a home or business. I know of one boutique hotel which pays homage to its rural setting by snapping up vintage pitchforks and farming tools to add drama to its walls.
Agriculture has an allure all of its own and delivers a never-ending supply of interesting lots people would struggle to find elsewhere. That aspect appeals to interior designers in search of unusual objects to impress clients.
Their creative flair turns practical items into ornamental objects – and country life delivers the wow factor. I often wonder what became of a stylish pair of early 20th Century leather gents riding boots complete with wooden Huntleys of Aldershot boot stretchers. Polished to perfection, those boots were snapped up for £45 at auction.
And what about the impossible-to-ignore taxidermy pike, a whopping 90cm in length? Preserved and displayed in a naturalistic setting within a curved glass cabinet, it sold for £50. Taxidermy items remain popular in our general and Country Pursuits sales.
Another quirky lot that’s taken my eye is a 19th Century-style wooden milkmaid’s yoke with original chains and hooks, estimate £40-£60. Not a huge amount, perhaps, but a reminder that all manner of quirky objects have a value at auction.
And, of course, agricultural influences don’t end there. Farms inspire everything from ceramics to toys. We often see Beswick ceramic animal figures in our auctions. In January, a John Beswick bull, calf and goat carried an estimate of £30-£50. The same auction and guide price applied to a ceramics group featuring two ceramic fox hounds, a Shire horse, beagle and Hereford calf.
And farming-related artwork continues to flood in. Yet again, it demonstrates the enduring fascinating with rural life. Our January sales included 26 oil paintings by a Nottinghamshire planning engineer, the late Frank Wright – and most depicted farming or rural life.
He lived in the town of Mansfield but, away from the day job, loved to capture country scenes in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire. Agricultural views, horses, farming animals, woodlands and meandering rivers dominated his work.
According to his beloved wife, Kathleen, his paintings touched many hearts as they highlighted the beauty of rivers and dales which many people were familiar with.
The move from rural life to cities, towns and factory work happened a long time ago but, perhaps, at the heart of every one of us is a yearning for rural peace. And snapping up a farming-related item at auction meets that need, just a little.
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