Sale Report - Super Star Wars Toys Star at Auction

  I can remember the first Star Wars film back in 1977 when I had just started at Litcham High School.  My friends and I used to run around the playground in character.  I was always Han Solo which, looking back on it, was an early indication of how I would choose to live my life.  If only aged eleven I would have stopped to think before opening the Star Wars toys that were gifted to me at Christmas and birthdays...
  Our sale last Sunday bore witness to the demand for Star Wars toys and to the prices that can be achieved at auction when those toys remain unopened.  LOT 244 - two 1982 Star Wars figures (Darth Vader and Boba Fett) in their original packaging (below) made £460 ABP, much higher than anticipated.

  In fact The Sunday Auction was a huge success, not least because of our partnership with www.the-saleroom.com which has enabled us to more readily access a world-wide market for the wonderful things that are sold through our auction house.  We've increased our buying and selling premiums to 15% incl but feel sure that the improved service we now offer justifies that.  And it will still be worth attending our auction in person because that way buyers will avoid the additional 3% premium payable by those bidding online.
  We're now accepting entries for our sale on the 17th March 2013.  Let us know if you have any Star Wars toys...

Blaze of Glory

Barnes Auctioneers has a bit of pedigree when it comes to selling pop memorabilia.  Over the years we have sold everything from an autograph book signed by all four members of The Beatles to Bob Dylan's harmonica.  This Sunday we will be offering a Squier Fender guitar (pictured) signed by Jon Bon Jovi.  It's extremely rare and highly desirable.  We expect it to do well.  We expect it to do very well. 

Entries for Sunday's auction have been steadily coming through the door of our new office at 71 Yarmouth Road, despite the fact that we are still painting and decorating (the carpet goes down tomorrow)!  We will be hosting a valuation day and taking entries for the auction in between 9.30am and 5.30pm on Saturday so our hope is to be operational by then. 

In fact the catalogue for Sunday is looking quite good.  We will be posting the completed list at 6pm on Saturday and selected highlights throughout the week - simply visit www.barnescatalogue.blogspot.com

It's probably worth mentioning that the problems with our card machine have been resolved and so we'll be back to normal this weekend.  We accept payment by cash (gratefully), debit card (practically). and credit card (but will have to charge you an additional 2%).  We do not accept payment by cheque, instalments, or in Euros.  Definitely not in Euros.

It's been a year of change for Barnes Auctioneers - changes to our team, a change of saleroom, and a change of office (even if we have just moved next door).  All for the better.  It looks like we'll leave 2012 in a Blaze of Glory.

The Little Things

It's the little things that I like - take this Victorian turned-wood treen nutmeg grater in the form of an acorn (pictured).  It unscrews to reveal a storage compartment and an ivory grater.  It still contains an old nutmeg and the aroma is wonderful.  It makes me think of autumn suppers.  It is nostalgia, yes, but just as useful today as it ever was.  If you like it then it could be yours, as it will be offered for sale at our Sunday Auction this weekend.  It's LOT 113 with an estimate of £60-80.  I would suggest, however, that you replace the nutmeg...

By the way - you can monitor the progress of Sunday's auction by visiting www.barnescatalogue.blogspot.com Selected highlights will be posted throughout the week with the full catalogue appearing online at 6pm on Saturday.

I suppose the biggest news to report is that we have a new shop, office, and showroom.  Most people know we traded out of St Andrew's Hall for many years but that this summer made the switch to Roxley Hall on the Yarmouth Road.  That has proven to be most successful.  Now, as part of our expansion, we have taken on nearby premises, 71 Yarmouth Road.  Until recently a florists, the building is perfect for us and we intend to host an official opening on 25th November so do come along and support us.  We are 'open' now - but mostly you will find us decorating and re-carpeting!  The idea is is to have an office base near to the saleroom.  We will be open six days a week (Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am-5.30pm) to accept entries and conduct other related auction business with our customers.  The office will double as an antiques shop and showroom.

This Sunday we intend to host an additional sale in the morning, of motor-vehicles including cars and vans.  Public viewing begins at 9am with the sale starting at 11am.  If you would like to place a vehicle into the sale please contact us on 01603 304337 or email barnesauctioneers@btinternet.com Entries need to be confirmed by 5.30pm on Saturday

Animal Artists

I once sold an oil painting by James Stark and pencil drawings by Henry Moore.  Some of the biggest names in the art world have passed through the doors of Barnes Auctioneers over the years and no doubt will continue to do so (check out, by the way, the Margaret Morris painting in our forthcoming sale https://sites.google.com/site/barnesauctioneersnorwich/latest-news ).  But, I have never (and never expected) to offer for sale at auction an original watercolour by a penguin.
Yes, that's Dimi the Penguin (above), one of the stars at the Hunstanton Sea Life Centre with his creation.  And what a beautiful picture it is too - very Andy Warhol.
The idea is to raise much needed funds for the charity and we hope that our animal-loving bidders will be out in force when the painting is sold at our auction on Sunday.

LOT 1 - Original watercolour by Dimi the Humboldt Penguin Est £100-£150

Important Collection of Silk Cigarette Cards

Barnes Auctioneers has been instructed by a private client to sell one of the largest collections of uncut silk cigarette cards to come onto the market in recent years. 
The Sunday Auction at Roxley Hall in Norwich on 4th November will see the entire collection offered as part of our twice-month antiques and valuables sale. 
Anyone interested in receiving a catalogue in advance of the sale should contact us on 01603 304337 or email barnesauctioneers@btinternet.com

Hammered Coins and Sugar Beet

Hammered coins and sugar beet are not obviously related subjects but in fact they have one thing in common - both are adundant in the fertile soils of East Anglia. 
At our valuation day in Thetford last Friday I met a man who used to work at a well-known local sugar processing factory.  Throughout his employment he worked on the line where the sugar beet is washed prior to processing.  As the clumps of mud were removed they sometimes exposed hammered coins and other treasures lost over hundreds of years.  He brought some of the coins to show me.  I suspect they will end up in our next auction on the 4th November...
There really is not much to report from yesterday's sale.  It was a good solid performance all round.  We turned a (hammered, no doubt) coin as we say in the trade.  It seems like our gamble to move to Roxley Hall from St Andrew's Hall has paid off. 
Our new FREE valuation and collection service within Norwich is up and running.  If you have lots for the auction on the 4th November simply call 01603 304337 and arrange an appointment for us to visit.  It's as simple as that.

The Sunday Auction 21st October 2012

The Sunday Auction takes place at Roxley Hall in Norwich tomorrow, Sunday 21st October 2012 at 2pm.

We will be accepting entries throughout the morning 8am-midday at Roxley Hall with public viewing from midday.  The sale itself starts at 2pm.

Roxley Hall is situated on Yarmouth Road in Thorpe St Andrew - NR7 0QZ in your sat navs.

We have our usual selection of lots including illustated (above)

LOT 100 - large late 19th Century bronze after J de Bologne of the Roman God, Mercury, signed and with foundry mark to base Est £600-800
LOT 119 - Swiss Moneville hand-crank music box with Chrsitmas theme and in working condition c.1890 £80-120
LOT 144 - 'The World's First' incl original encapsulated Penny Black stamp Est £40-60
LOT 175 - Vintage cigarette box with Japanese decoation, Mount Fuji to the background, stamped 'Sterling' Est £40-60
LOT 180 - Two WW1 medals, with ribbons, Pte H W Rudge ASC Est £20-30
LOT 181 - 1914-1918 medal, with ribbon, PteF J Tuck MGC Est £10-20

1930's Sowerby Lemonade Jug

This 1930's uranium green pressed glass lemonade jug epitomises the Art Deco period - elegant, functional, and modern. 

Almost certainly by the great English glassmaking family, Sowerby of Gateshead, it would not look out of place in the modern home.  It is this versatility that makes Art Deco glass so collectable - it displays well, but actually, why not use it?

Uranium glass is simply glass that has uranium added to the mix before melting, the result being beautiful hues of yellow and green (depending on the state of oxidation).  Under an ultra-violet light, uranium glass fluoresces making identification relatively simple. 

I am often asked whether or not uranium glass is safe.  There have been cases where a Geiger counter has measured unexpectedly high levels of radiation in uranium glass but most pieces are actually considered harmless to humans. 

Displayed correctly it can bring pleasure to those who appreciate it and represents an excellent investment opportunity - glass is massively undervalued at the moment.

That said, I would use it. 

LOT 50 - 1930's Art Deco uranium green pressed glass lemonade jug, probably Sowerby Est £20-30

The Sunday Auction at Roxley Hall - 21st October 2012 2pm  (public viewing from midday)