HILLS OF PURPLE , FIELDS LUSH GREEN !

WHEATHER YOU'RE AMONG YORKSHIRE'S STUNNING PEAKS , LUSH VALLEYS OR GENTLE ROLLING HILLS, YOU'RE ALWAYS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF SOME OF BRITAIN'S FINEST SCENERY, AND COMPANY !  AND BOY DID I ENJOY MY RECENT TRIP DOWN SOUTH.  THE WEATHER WAS KIND , THE LOCALS WERE KIND, AND SO WERE THE BIDDERS. I HAD AN ITEM IN TENNANTS AUTUMN SALE , AT LEYBURN , NORTH YORKSHIRE , AND I WAS DELIGHTED THAT IT ACHIEVED FIVE TIMES THE ESTIMATE. IT WAS A SMALL WORK OF ART, AN IVORY BUST, ONLY 5.5 INCHES HIGH. I FOUND IT AT A SMALL AUCTION HOUSE, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WHEN I PURCHASED IT I WAS THE ONLY BIDDER ! STRONG TELEPHONE BIDS TOOK IT WELL ABOVE EXPECTATIONS ! THIS WAS THE START OF A VERY NICE WEEKEND.

THERE WILL BE A FULL REPORT OF THE SALE IN NEXT WEEKS ANTIQUES TRADE GAZETTE. A PAINTING BY LOWRY SOLD FOR £140,000. AT THE SALE. IN FACT BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF ITEMS , TWO AUCTIONS WERE ON AT THE SAME TIME AT TENNENTS. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS ELECTRIC !  I MANAGED A QUICK WORD WITH RODNEY TENNENT [ THE BOSS !] JUST BEFORE THE START OF THE SALE , AND HE TOLD ME HE HAD JUST BEEN IN TROON A FEW DAYS BEFORE. TROON IS ONLY A FEW MILES FROM MY HOME . I THINK HE THEN APPRECIATED HOW FAR WE HAD COME.   WE  ONCE MANAGED TO ATTEND 44 OF THEIR SALES IN A YEAR. I SAY WE AS I WAS WITH MY BOSS, [ RIITTA] MY WIFE !

NEXT PLACE NEWCASTLE, AND AS THEY SAY 'AWA THE LADS !'  I HAVE VISITED THIS AREA MANY TIMES, AND AGAIN , WHAT A FRIENDLY CROWD THEY ARE.!  THIS TIME I VISITED AN AUCTION TO BUY ! I WAS EXPECTING TO COME BACK WITH MY HONDA ESTATE LOADED WITH MAILING. NOT SO. I COULD ONLY FIND A FEW PIECES AND INDEED I CAME BACK WITH MORE CARLTON WARE THAN I INTENDED. IT TURNS OUT THAT ONE PIECE I NOW HAVE  LISTED ON AUCTION SINCE RETURNING IS VERY RARE ! I HAVE FEATURED IT ON 'MY WORLD' ITS A SMALL PRESERVE POT WITH A SEPERATE BASE, AND IS IN VERY FINE CONDITION. I DISCOVERED ONE HAD JUST SOLD LAST WEEK ON EBAY AT OVER £100. ! I AM NOW KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED !

I DID TAKE THE OPPERTUNITY TO VISIT SEVERAL AUCTION HOUSES IN THE AREA, AND WE  COVERED OVER 700 MILES. DURING THE TRIP.  BACK HOME AND ON TO TAKING PHOTOS AND LISTING, AND ANSWERING EMAILS. NEXT WEEK I AM BACK DOWN TO A DECORATIVE SALE THAT WE HAVE A SMALL VASE ENTERED INTO. ITS A SCANDANAVIAN VASE 'RORSTAND BOTTLE VASE ' 5.5 INCHES HIGH, AND VERY TACTILE.

THE FOLLOWING WEEK I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO A TWO DAY SALE , NEAR THE BEAUTIFUL TOWN OF DURHAM , AND I JUST KNOW, THAT I WILL FIND SOME MALING POTTERY THERE ! THE CHAP WHO IS HOLDING THE SALE IS A MALING EXPERT AND KNOWS HIS STUFF !  I REMEMBER A COLLECTION OF MALING WAS SENT OVER FROM USA FOR HIM TO SELL. HE OFTEN HAS MUSEUM QUALITY PIECES IN HIS AUCTIONS . HOPE THIS KEEPS YOU ALL UP TO DATE AND PLEASE LEAVE YOUR INPUT AND COMMENTS !  HAVE I GIVEN ENOUGH DETAIL ? OR IS IT ABOUT RIGHT ? THAT'S THE IDEA OF THE BLOG. !