ANTIQUES ROADSHOW EXPERTS LEE YOUNG AND DUNCAN CAMPBELL Visit DEVON AND CORNWALL IN APRIL
ASIAN ART & SILVER DEPARTMENTS VENTURE TO DEVON & CORNWALL THIS APRIL
This April our heads of department, Lee and Duncan, who specialise in Asian Art and Silver respectively, are venturing deeper into the South West to see if they can help members of the public unearth antiques in their homes that could reach substantial sums at auction.
There is a strong appetite in the Asian art and silver markets at the moment for the right kinds of items. In the case of antique silver, Duncan is keen to correct a common misconception that silver doesn’t necessarily need a hallmark to be valuable. It also doesn’t need to be big and heavy, even a humble spoon, if it’s the right type, can be surprisingly sought-after. While good English silver is always in demand, unmarked items from India & south East Asia are particularly hot at the moment.
Not many will know, Lee is a Cornish lad who grew up near Sennon and went to school in St Just, so he'll be returning to his roots on this trip. Lee has specialised in the orient since 2005 when the Chinese art market was at the height of its global boom, and has followed its twists and turns since then. The Chinese are still very keen to repatriate ancient treasure from the imperial palaces. Surprisingly, damage is not a deterrent as one might think as finding original rare pieces is becoming increasingly challenging.
That said, our specialists are no stranger to priceless discoveries in unusual places.
Lee recalls some memorable finds in Asian Art: “In my 20 years specialising in Asian Art, dare I say it, I’ve seen it all from a Ming dynasty toothbrush holder to a Qing dynasty Emperor’s robe used casually as a dressing gown - both went on to reach well into the five figures at auction.”
“Most recently I came across a blue and red Qianlong lantern vase tucked away forgotten in a loft, gathering dust since 1982. It was in fact an incredibly rare and desirable piece that went on to sell for an eye-watering £227,500 at auction.”
Duncan shares tales of silver: “I was contacted by a lady who had been told by her local antique centre that, without a mark, her silver container was probably only worth the value of the metal it was made from, which was at the time £390. Her next door neighbour suggested that she seek a second opinion before consigning it to scrap man. I was sent a photograph to my phone, jumped into my car immediately and raced over to see a very rare 17th century Indonesian lime box which sold two months later for £16,000.”
“An attractive silver-gilt casket had always been assumed to be brass and had been sitting on a hall table for years full of old paper clips and coins. My eyes popped when I walked into the house to carry out a valuation. The owner assured me that it cannot have been worth much as it had belonged to their Grandfather who loved buying junk. The sale price of £6,500 convinced him that Grandpa was not so daft.”
If you live in Devon or Cornwall and would like to book a home appointment with Lee or Duncan this April, call us on 01373 462 257 or email enquiries@doreandrees.com