Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 68

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Island Life - February/March 2011

Under the hammer at Brading
Successful Island estate agents Hose
Rhodes Dickson have recently embarked
on a new venture with the opening of
their auction rooms in Brading.
The spacious building, situated in
Quay Lane, just behind the former
Brading Waxworks site, is the venue
for an auction of modern and vintage
goods, held on a Saturday morning
once a month, coupled with a fine
arts auction, which takes place on a
Thursday once every two months.
Rex Gully, who has a wealth of
experience in the trade, is the auction
house manager, valuer and auctioneer.
He has joined up with Richard Dickson,
managing partner of Hose, Rhodes,
Dickson, and both are delighted at the
way the new auction rooms have been
received, not just by Islanders, but from
a worldwide audience through the
internet.
Both are proud to announce the
early auctions have exceeded all
expectations, with three items at the
fine arts sale being sold for several
thousands of pounds. Rex said: “The
building used to be a vintage car
showroom, and as soon as we viewed it
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we felt it would be an ideal location. It
is an industrial building with flair. It is
basically exactly what we were looking
for; a single storey building that has
plenty of room for items and people
wishing to come along and make bids.”
He continued: “Richard approached
me and said he had been thinking
about starting an auction venture for
some time, and asked if I would like
to run it for him. I had no hesitation.
We feel we have embraced the modern
world because an increasing amount
of business is conducted through the
internet.
“We market through the internet to a
worldwide audience, and then accept
bids live through the internet during
the auction. But of course we welcome
as many people as possible to attend
the auctions live.”
The complex includes office
accommodation, store rooms, toilets
with disabled access, good heating and
lighting, and ample parking – more or
less everything to keep the customer
happy.
The first auction was held in December
– delayed for a week because of the

adverse weather – but that only added
to the publicity, and was extremely
well attended. The items at the initial
auction even included a nativity scene
from the former waxworks.
The first fine arts auction saw a pair
of ornate candlesticks, made by Danish
silversmith Georg Jensen and estimated
at £300 to £500, sold for £3,000. There
was also a highly collectable wooden
carved coffee table in the shape of a
camel, made in the days of the Indian
Raj, which went under the hammer and
fetched £2,400.
Rex said: “We decided to hold
the household goods auction on a
Saturday so that the whole family can
come along, and the attendance has
been incredible. People like all the
auction-related television programmes
such as ‘Flog It’ and ‘Dickinson’s real
Deal’ so here is an opportunity to come
along and see a live auction.
“We wanted to make the auction
room welcoming, whereas in the past
they might have been a bit intimidating.
People appear to have thoroughly
enjoyed the Saturday auctions and have
said they will definitely be back.”

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