Work with us in 2013

Barnes Auctioneers is set to establish a network of associated salerooms throughout Norfolk and Suffolk during 2013.  Up to six new businesses, all independently owned and operated in partnership with us, will be  formed as part of our franchise strategy to expand  throughout East Anglia.
Please visit our man website www.barnesauctioneers.co.uk for more information

Barnes Auctioneers Review of 2012

We held our last sale of 2012 at Roxley Hall (pictured) on Sunday.  It's been a significant year for Barnes Auctioneers with the opening of a new office and antiques shop at 71 Yarmouth Road and a new saleroom of course.  We're determined to continue our good form into 2013 and host our first sale of the New Year on Sunday, 6th January (2pm as usual, public viewing from midday).
Significantly, I think we are in better shape going into 2013 than we were when we entered 2012, that despite the doom and gloom in the economy.  Not that we would ever take anything for granted.
I took the first five lots for 2013 in today.  I can't wait to see what else comes in over the next twelve months...

Good quality ceramics in The Sunday Auction

We have some good quality ceramics in The Sunday Auction this weekend including Royal Crown Derby, Royal Doulton, Lladro, Beswick, Dresden, Staffordshire, and much more besides.  Here we have:
LOT 164 - Royal Crown Derby Tug Boat, Treasures of Childhood*  Est 60-80
LOT 153 - Rare early Derby c.1885 Pattern 383, pair of single-handled oval dishes*  Est 140-180
LOT 166 - Staffordshire flatback fortified manor house*  Est 40-60
LOT 161 - Beswick Pig Thomas PP11 Sinclairs 1997 Ltd Ed*  Est 40-60
LOT 154 - Royal Doulton stoneware vase, Lambeth mark c.1922*  Est 80-120
LOT 156 - Lladro Angel Praying 1969*  Est 40-60

WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING ENTRIES THROUGHOUT SATURDAY AT OUR OFFICE 71 YARMOUTH ROAD NR7 0AA 9.30AM TO 5.30PM

More entries for The Sunday Auction

The Sunday Auction takes place this weekend, 16th December 2012 at 2pm at Roxley Hall on Yarmouth Road in Norwich (NR7 0QZ).  A full catalogue will be posted here on Saturday evening around 6pm.  In the meantime scroll down for some advanced photographs.
LOT 80 - Pair of Victorian Davidson canary yellow uranium glass salts  Est 20-30
LOT 76 - Treen teak barrel taken from HMS Ajax with paperwork*  Est 18-25
LOT 77 - Vegetable ivory rosary stanhope of the battlefield of the Cheminderdam*  Est 20-30
LOT 84 - Six limited edition plates, The Canterbury Collection, 6/75 illustrating different scenes from the Norfolk village of Scarning near Dereham  Est 20-30
LOT 85 - Portrait of Bill Edrich, Norfolk, Middlesex, and England cricketer by Arthur Dooley, signed by the artist and subject, mounted in a gilt frame*  Est 40-60
LOT 87 - Lithograph of an Italian classical lady seated in a Romanesque garden and mounted in an ornate mahogany frame  Est 40-60
LOT 138 - Rare Royal Doulton trial piece toby jug, unknown model, marked 'Colour Dept 27-3-51' along with the usual backstamp to base*  Est 30-40

More lots accepted for Sunday 16th December

Our catalogue for Sunday is filling up - here are just a few of the lots already entered.  The complete catalogue will be posted here around 6pm on Saturday evening.  In the meantime we are still accepting entries at our office at 71 Yarmouth Road so do pop down to see us with your antiques, collectables, and valuables.  We're open between 9.30am and 5.30pm today, tomorrow (Friday), and Saturday.
LOT 71 - Stunning Restoration period oak refectory table Est 800-1,200
LOT 73 - Good quality 18ct white gold and diamond ring*  Est 200-300
LOT 60 - Victorian pocket watch, John Kellir of Liverpool, hallmarked Chester 1899*  Est 40-60
LOT 72 - Squier stratocaster electric guitar by Fender  Est 40-60
LOT 83 - Set of Goodalls "Victorian" playing cards*  Est 10-20

First Preview for Sunday 16th December Sale

Our last auction of 2012 takes place this Sunday, 16th December at Roxley Hall in Norwich.  Public viewing is from midday with the sale starting at 2pm.  We are accepting entries throughout this week between 9.30am and 5.30pm Tuesday to Saturday at our office - 71 Yarmouth Road, NR7 0AA.
Here is a glimpse of some lots already entered:
LOT 1 - Pair of James Dixon hallmarked silver candlesticks*  Est 40-60
LOT 9 - Early 20th Century silver-plated desk inkwell set*  Est 30-40
LOT 4 - Small Arts & Crafts oak lectern  Est 60-80
LOT 35 - Cased pair of hallmarked silver field glasses, Birmingham 1897, makers marks C.J.*  Est 40-60
LOT 37 - Royal Doulton Limited Edition 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' Day Two - Two Turtle Doves*  Est 20-30
LOT 39 - Dresden Lace group figurine of courting Georgian couple*  Est 40-60
LOTS 42 and 43 - Antique Sherry and Ports casks  Est 20-30 each

All I Want For Christmas

All I want for Christmas is an Aston Martin.  I guess the DB5 is too obvious so it will have to be the DB4 Mk-1.  I've never owned a classic car unless you count the Vauxhall Viva that I passed my driving test in.  It was green, which is supposed to be unlucky but trust when I say that it was far from that.
In the meantime I could make do with this 1960's Les Leston steering wheel which is in our next auction on Sunday, 16th December at Roxley Hall in Norwich.  We have estimated it at £60-80 which really is a bargain for such a lovely thing.  I was thinking of buying it and pretending that it has an Aston Martin attached.  Or perhaps I could do a Johnny Cash and build my car one part at a time...
We've had lots of visitors to our new showroom on 71 Yarmouth Road and a few shop sales too but the real deal here seems to be that we are taking a good number of entries for our twice-monthly auction.  If you haven't popped in to see us yet then please do.
One piece of news is that we will be making a change to our sale on the 20th January 2013, which will be managed as a sealed bid auction for coins, banknotes, stamps, postcards, and cigarette cards including the Ken Short Silks Collection.  The sale will be held at Roxley Hall as usual but run from 10am until 4pm  We are currently inviting entries and our usual Terms apply.

I am a bit scared...

I am a bit scared. I am a bit scared because I now own a shop. Well, a kind of shop. An office, a showroom and I guess...a shop. An antique shop. And that can only mean one thing: I have to grow up. Growing up has never really been on my agenda.
The trouble began when I heard through the grapevine that the florist next door was moving out. For years I have managed Barnes Auctioneers from the second floor of our home. In theory that works well - the only delays facing my morning commute being the time it takes to make coffee, the only dress code being casual to naked, and zero office costs. But when the florist moved out I had to move in. I had to move in because it made sense. It makes sense, current tense. And sensible is, of course, very grown up indeed.
There will be many advantages in having our new premises (71 Yarmouth Road in Norwich, pictured) including a 'high street' presence and the opportunity to retail (£295 for the oak Wainscott revival chair with Wymondham Market Cross carved to back panel, pictured). It marks a significant step-forward in our ability to service clients who can conduct business with us throughout the week without appointment: 71 Yarmouth Road will be open 9.30am to 5.30pm Tuesday-Saturday. We'll also open 10am to 4pm on Sundays but only as a shop.
I made my first sale from the shop the other day despite the fact that we are not really open yet. A very good customer of ours visited to settle his account and noticed some coins in a cabinet "How much are those?" he asked. The deal was done at £55 and the shop, I guess, christened in the process.
We officially open for business this Sunday, 25th November at 4pm to coincide with the Thorpe St Andrew Christmas lights switch-on (which takes place right outside our shop). We're not ready at all but then not being ready has never stopped me before.
The Sunday Auction last weekend was a great success. We had a good turnout of buyers and some wonderful lots for them to bid on. And bid on them they certainly did with excellent prices being achieved for most things. We make it look easy but managing an auction is more difficult than it looks. It's only possible because we have a team of people that just make it happen. At our traditional post-sale shandy I was emphatic and right in saying "We are better than we have ever been".
At this juncture I must make comment on Thorpe St Andrew Council. They supported our move into Roxley Hall from the beginning and have been supportive ever since. Their policy and practice is to support local people and local business and that shines through. I consider their support to be a major ingredient in our success of late.
In the old days we were swashbuckling. We had to be swashbuckling to take on the auction elite. Today we are the auction elite. We are established. We even have a proper office. How grown up. How scary. How wonderful.
 

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