Within the first month the office had already uncovered some exciting finds, including a stunning Victorian 18ct gold enamel and seed pearl hinged bangle and matching brooch, selling for £1,100 at auction in November, a pair of late 19th / early 20th century Sevres style vases, which will be auctioned in our specialist Country House Sale taking place in March 2024, and a large collection of silver coins, brought in by a vendor whose father had been a Harrogate banker for many years – with a combined value of over £3,000.
We've also surprised some vendors with several hidden treasures. Melanie recently saved a lady who was about to take what she thought was a piece of costume jewellery to a charity shop. Melanie identified the brooch as a piece made by Dorrie Nossiter (1893-1977), a Birmingham jeweller famed for her pre-war designs in the arts and crafts style - it went on to make several hundred pounds at auction.
Another of Melanie’s finds was a single ring in a box of costume jewellery, again on its way to a charity shop. The ring was 18 carat gold designed by Archibald Knox (1864-1933), an artist of huge importance in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Celtic Revival movements; the ring sold for £2,000.
It just does show how worthwhile it can be to get things checked out before they’re thrown!