The Antique Marks Blog

BBC Antiques Roadshow 2009 (series 32) Recording Dates

The Antiques Roadshow records programmes across the UK, throughout the year, with some of Britain's leading antiques and fine arts specialists. At the recordings, the specialists are on hand to offer free advice and valuations to visitors who are invited to raid their attics and bring along their family heirlooms, household treasures and car boot bargains for inspection.

Recording dates for 2009 are as follows. The doors will be open from 9.30am to 4.30pm and as long as you are in the queue by 4.30pm you will see an expert. If you have a large piece of furniture or other big item, you can send details and photographs to the Antiques Roadshow. It may be possible to arrange for them to look at the item in advance and organise transportation to the venue.

Email: antiques.roadshow@bbc.co.uk

It would seem rare Doulton Figures are still a wise investment as an early Royal Doulton figure with two names went under the hammer at Dukes of Dorchester in early February 2009 for an astonishing £10,500.

The figure designed by Harry Tittensor appears to be an early prototype for a limited production run of the figure Dolly between 1921 and 1938 and prototypes as well as rare colourways remain the most buoyant sector of the Doulton figurine market.

The base of the figure is marked 'Dolly', but the HN number refers to the figure as 'Little Mother' and suggests that it was made before the actual name had been decided on.

There are two Royal Doulton figures named 'Dolly' that match the model, which have either a different coloured dress or different coloured hair (HN389 and HN390).

There is also a Dolly figure designed by Charles Noke - Dolly HN355, Issued 1919-1938. Size: 7.25''. One of which is currently being offered for sale at $9,500 USD.

The Tittensor Little Mother figure is numbered HN469 and can be found on page 60 of the Charlton Standard Catalogue of Royal Doulton Figurines with a note stating, "Only one known to exist".

Dukes listed the figures as :

A ROYAL DOULTON FIGURE "Little Mother or Dolly" HN469, in the form of a young girl in a night dress cradling a doll, with printed Royal Doulton mark, hand painted HN number and name "Dolly", 11".

The Auction Estimate of £800 to £1500 was met easily by collectors who had braved the snow to try and secure it for their collection. The Dolly figure was eventually snapped up by an American Collector for the £10,500 bid.

Now, what would be the result if we had a vote on which figure was the sweetest?

Bank crashes, job losses, repossessions, bailouts and no light at the end of the tunnel. So, why would now be the best time to invest in antiques?

Well, fast approaching 50 and after buying, selling and collecting antiques for around 30 of those 50 years, now is in my humble opinion, the best time.

Antiques can be almost as good an investment as gold and diamonds; provided you know what to buy, (Possibly antique gold and diamond jewellery). You see fads come and go, but quality shines through and quality endures. Quality in design, top quality materials and the best and most talented designers of quality products.

It doesn't really matter what type of product you buy, although some do far better than others, as long as it has a quality pedigree. Leave the emerging markets and new fads to the speculators and focus on quality.

Compare for instance a Beswick horse model with a Worcester horse by Doris Lindner or a Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre bowl by Daisy Makeig-Jones with a more recent limited edition Poole Pottery Charger and ask yourself what will increase in value and why.

Taste is a factor but it is also a fad and Poole or Beswick collectors might argue that their items are in demand, or that they are quailty, but they are only arguing for the fad and cannot refute the quality and endurance of the top Worcester, Wedgwood, Meissen, Doulton, Sevres or Limoges designers.

Expense is another factor and in a fad market prices become inflated, markets become saturated and then crash to earth. True quality antiques have had their fad and are now just wise investments, so invest in antique Worcester fruit painted porcelain and antique Derby Imari porcelain rather than modern equivalents, which are far too numerous.

Which brings us to the most important factor... rarity. Seek and ye shall find.

Now, when bankers are losing bonuses, when company cashflows are drying up, when executive job losses are on the rise, when the nouveau riche need money... Now is when those rare items will start to appear.

Why... well those that aren't losing money, those with healthy savings, those that no longer trust the banks, that are getting zero return on their investments, those looking to invest in safer markets, are looking at antiques, which is why antique sales are rising.

Consider this dealers sales experience...

... At this past Christmas season, when the news of our economy was rather dim, I thought that perhaps, this Christmas will not be like the others, that maybe this will be the bad economy to end all economies.

As Christmas was slowly approaching, business was very slow & there was a lack of holiday spirit in the air. Just as I was starting to think that this year may indeed be different something remarkable happened. My website orders started coming in at a remarkable speed, it was totally exhilarating & of course inside I was patting myself on the back & saying I knew this would happen, I felt it in the depths of my very being & I also felt a bit embarrassed that some little part of me was about to side with public opinion.

So many interesting things happened. About 50% of the holiday sales were from long time repeat customers, 25% were just shoppers who found what they were looking for on my site & the last 25% were first time antique buyers.

Now this is where it gets interesting: This group had no experience or knowledge of "Antiques", they picked objects that were beautiful, that they found interesting. Most of these people were so honest, forthright & apologetic about the questions that they had on their mind. Most often they started out by saying ,"I am really impressed with your vast inventory of high quality items", Most would go on to say that they don't know much about antiques, but have been hearing how the antiques and luxury goods market stays stable in hard economic times. I felt really good about people putting their faith & trust in me ...

New buyers... increased demand... and nouveau riche collectors need cash.

That's when those rare items appear. So now, is the time to look and now is the time to buy.