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By Karrie Gillett
A SCOTS collector has sold 7,000 antique golf clubs to a Chinese businessman for a massive £120,000.
The haul is thought to be the largest-ever collection of hickory clubs, with all the items dating back to before 1930.
John Dixon, of Edinburgh-based dealers Georgian Antiques, picked up the putters, drivers and irons over a period of 12 years from auctions and specialist shops. Continue reading
By Oliver Farrimond
TOP telly presenter Fiona Bruce was in danger of turning the Antiques Roadshow into the Antiques NO-SHOW after getting stuck in traffic.
Host Bruce started the day well behind schedule after being caught up in a queue of motors crawling towards famous Hopetoun House in South Queensferry as thousands flocked to see the time team.
Many of those who turned up had to wait five hours for their chance to be seen, but none grumbled under their breath, all were just glad of the chance to have their questions answered.
Experts were on hand to scour family heirlooms and dusty collectables amid filming for what is the 32nd series.
And a breathless Bruce said: “I think I can safely say I have never seen so many people at a filming before.
“It must be the spectacular venue and weather – we are incredibly lucky and it should be an amazing day.
“Everyone should give the roadshow a go and bring something along, you never know what it might be worth.”
Cash in the attic
The new series is only the second to be presented by Bruce and she added that so far it was proving to be the most popular.
Every filming attracts thousands of antiques owners, all eager to find out the history of their family heirlooms and, most importantly, how much they might be worth.
For some it could very well be the million-dollar question, but for most it will be simply the satisfaction of knowing that there really is even a little cash in their attic for a rainy day.
Julie Thomas, 46, said that she did not mind the five-hour queue.
She said: “Hopefully the items I have brought will make it worth the wait.
“I watch the programme religiously every Sunday and it is really exciting to actually get the chance to take part.”
The home – built in 1699 by gentleman-architect William Bruce – is the traditional seat of the Marquess of Linlithgow.
And although plenty of West Lothian’s upper crust turned out for the day’s filming, sitting Marquess Adrian Hope did not make an appearance.
Beautifully preserved
Despite the huge turnout for the day’s filming, the estate’s vast expanse of land proved more than enough room for the hundreds of cars parked outside.
Lines snaked around the grounds of the 400-year-old stately home, with collectors clutching all manner of trinkets.
The items brought ranged from the miniscule to the massive, with teams of workmen and lorries handling the largest of the antiques.
One enthusiast had even driven his 1956 Citroen to be valued, and the classic car was parked outside the southern wing of the estate as bodies filed past.
It drew admiring glances from the throng of people who had to wind past the beautifully preserved automobile, one of the more interesting exhibits to be taken along.
Many were fortunate enough to have brought along antique chairs, providing relief from hours of standing.
Stunning collectibles
Those waiting were lucky enough to experience mostly good weather.
Although a typically blustery West Lothian Wednesday, the sun was bright for the most part, and the forecast threat of showers never materialised.
Most of the filming took place in two rooms in the south wing of the grand home, with the most stunning collectibles taking pride of place in front of television cameras.
Producers could be overheard expressing disbelief at the numbers turning up, and no experts’ table was without a throng of onlookers.
Many had to be moved outside to accommodate the volume of antiques being valued, with a visibly amazed Bruce moving between tables to ask visitors’ stories.
Wearing flared corduroy trousers and a trendy beige jacket, Bruce looked every inch the experienced presenter, despite only having fronted the show for one series.
The next series of Antiques Roadshow is due to be broadcast at the end of this year and will spend the rest of the spring and summer touring the length and breadth of the British Isles.
Amongst the stops include the island of Guernsey, which has not hosted the show in almost 30 years.
Antiques Roadshow is one of the BBC’s most popular programmes, regularly watched by over seven-and-a-half million people each week.
By Karrie Gillett
THE entire contents of an island mansion are going up for auction – with no minimum price set on the items.
Hundreds of antiques – some valued at £30,000 – are being sold as their owners move to a smaller house.
The Ainslie Collection features garden furniture, kitchen pots, Persian rugs and even a set of seven 19th century copper jelly moulds.
And with no minimum price tag, auctioneers are convinced bidders will net some fantastic bargains.
The unusual sale is taking place at the Edinburgh Lyon & Turnbull auction house where the massive haul of objects from the Isle of Bute house is on display.
Collectors Gilbert and Lillian Ainslie have put the contents of their Victorian island house Ascog Old Manse up for sale after deciding to have a ‘clean sweep’.
Mr Ainslie – who has been dealing in antiques since he was 14 – moved to Bute in 2004 in order to retire, but old habits die hard and he continued collecting antiques.
He said: “When Lillian and I moved to Bute to take things a bit easier, we ended up running a monthly antiques sale in Rothesay, which became well known in the area.”
Now, the couple have decided to move to Perthshire and are parting with all their personal belongings.
Mrs Ainslie, who spent almost a month polishing all the brassware, said : “It is going to be hard to part with our collection as each piece has its own story, but the time has come to let someone else look after it.
“I shall enjoy not doing all the dusting and polishing.”
Gavin Strang, director of Lyon & Turnbull, said the auction would be a rare and interesting treat for bidders, with items including Edwardian mustard pots, a George III mahogany clock and a mid 19th century cow horn.
Mr Strang said: “In this day and age it is quite unusual to have the opportunity to say ‘everything must go’.
“There will be real bargains to be had as everything will be sold and the quality means some items could go at a great price for some bidders.
“There is something for every taste and wallet size.”
The highlights of the January 14 auction are being billed as a Demetre Chiparus Art Deco figure group ‘Bal Costume’, worth £30-50,000 and a pair of massive Japanese vases – estimated at £25,000 to £30,000.
The light blue cloisonné baluster vases stand at almost four feet and are decorated with flowers, pheasants and finches.
Mr Strang said: “I remember my first time to the isle to visit the Ainslies. Walking in to their house was like walking in to Aladdin’s cave. It was a real treat.
“There isn’t one aspect of the collection, they have interesting Japanese and Chinese pieces as well as some amazing oak Scottish country furniture.
“It’s very eclectic but all bound together by the very good quality.”
The sale also includes an extensive collection of metal ware, including a pair of 17th century Dutch brass candlesticks valued at £2,000-3,000.
Other unusual items expected to fetch hundreds of pounds include a small 19th century wooden wheelbarrow, an oak and brass salted pork barrel and a Georgian mahogany cutlery tray.
Deadline Press & Picture Agency 