Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2006 | Page 35
INTERVIEW
Philip Hoare
Valuer of Antiques and Fine Art
“Probably the most important thing I
identified was a Ming dynasty moon flask
that went for £250,000 … it had been
valued at just £15,000”
Most people dream of
finding valuables in the attic
– but for Philip Hoare it’s all
part of the job.
The Ryde-based valuer has handled
some amazingly exotic and valuable
pieces during a 40 year-career that
started when he took a holiday job
with famous London auctioneers
Phillips of Bond Street in 1966.
Then aged just 16, he instantly
found his passion – and ended
up staying with the company
for 14 years and progressing to
departmental head and then later a
consultant for them. He had been
a collector of military medals and
badges even as a youngster, and
found he loved the challenge of a
job that allowed him to unearth
treasures from the past.
It is a job that has given him
the chance to travel the world,
sourcing items for clients as far
afield as Japan, the USA and Europe.
Among his best finds have been
the magnificent lunar telescope he
bought from a large English period
house that had been destroyed
by fire. That ended up in the
Appalachian Mountains, where it
was sold to take pride of place in
a lavish re-creation of a Victorian
observatory.
He also recalls finding a rare Maori
figure in a Scottish attic which sold
for £78,000 in 1979 – a time when
that kind of money would have
bought a substantial house. The
figure finally found its home back
in a museum in Auckland, New
Zealand.
Many of Philip’s finds go to the US
for private museums or individual
collectors. As he says: “When it
comes to our American cousins, cost
is often no object”.
As an independent valuer, he
works for two distinct sets of
clients – those acquiring or building
collections, and those selling pieces
on. And the greatest buzz he gets is
when he can put together the perfect
match of buyer and seller.
“I do still get excited by finding
things, even after all these years” he
says, “and there is a particular buzz
in feeling that I have done well for
a client. Of course that also means I
have done well for myself as I work
on commission only – which is very
different from being a dealer”
Philip’s great expertise also means
he is often called upon to advise
clients on restoring, repairing or
researching their items.
“The research side is a bit like
detective work and can be very
enjoyable” he says.
Often, though, his trained eye can
instantly spot a treasure even before
he gets down to any research – and
sometimes he homes in on things
even before he gets into a house.
“Surprisingly, garden statuary is
often disregarded by clients, but I
have found some lovely pieces such
as terracotta urns, which can be
worth more than whatever it is I am
going to value indoors”
Philip’s own particular love is the
Victorian period – which is partly
why he and his family moved to the
Isle of Wight in 1985.
“My wife is an artist and found
the place very inspirational” he
says, “but I also love the place for its
wonderfully rich Victorian heritage
and architecture. If it was good
enough for Queen Victoria, it’s good
enough for me!”
Surprisingly, Philip has sold off
much of his own collection of
Japanese metalwork – partly to
help fund the education of his four
children, he says.
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But he adds: “I am handling nice
things all the time so really there
is no need to own lots of them. In
actual fact you could say we are all
just custodians of these things for a
short time.
* For advice on antique valuations,
restoration or research,
contact Philip on 01983 568614 or
0777 387 7242,
email: [email protected]
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