Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2008 | Page 60
Hidden
Treasures
life
ANTIQUES
During my many years as a
valuer of Antiques and works
of Art, 18 of those spent with
a leading bond street auction
house, I have often reflected
on the numerous occasions I
discovered something truly
exceptional in the most
unlikely of locations!
I have travelled extensively
in the UK and have been in
some of the grandest and some
of the humblest properties
in the land, I have valued
internationally, as far afield as
New York, Tokyo, Geneva and
60
Vienna and I have discovered,
over the years, that things
are rarely as they appear.
Often, in my experience, the
large and imposing country
house can contain very little
of rarity or value, the modest
cottage, however, may contain
something of great uniqueness
and value.
I remember clearly when
Phillips Auctioneers decided
to undertake a television
advertising campaign in the
late 1970’s. The response
was extraordinary; we
valuers worked flat out for
weeks making house calls!
We travelled the length and
breadth of the country and
many superb treasures were
uncovered.
I was called to a very
modest, semi-detached house
on the south coast. Before
I entered, I didn’t expect to
find anything of significance,
but this turned out to be a
veritable treasure house! Full
of the most wonderful objects
d’art including a collection
of Japanese Sword fittings
- Tsuba, Fuchi Kashira and
Kozuka which sold for many
thousands of pounds, the
Japanese market being very
strong during the 70’s. On
another of these calls, a direct
result of the power of the
media, I visited a house in
Windsor. A family had recently
purchased the house, which
had stood semi derelict for
many years, and on clearing
the garden found a large and
ornate wooden carving. Having
By Philip Hoare
Photo below: Rare Maori figure pre Europian contact,
discovered by Philip Hoare in an attic in Scotland in 1978.
been carved in hardwood it
was in remarkable condition.
I identified it as an important
Maori Canoe Prow, which sold
for the extraordinary price of
£35,000 - more than the client
had paid for the house!
As a professional valuer I
regularly find that the piece
I eventually appraise is not
always the piece I am called
in to look at. I once, on a
general valuation of silver
and furniture, spotted an
ivory carving in a cabinet of
curios. It was a gothic prayer
book cover and was dated by
the British Museum as being
13th/14th Century French,
it sold for £25,000 and was
bought by the British Museum
for their collection. The client
was absolutely amazed, as he
had purchased it for sixpence
at a jumble sale just after the
war!
The most exciting
find I ever made
was in Scotland.
I was cataloguing
the contents of
a large house,
which overlooked
the Clyde, a most
beautiful setting.
In one of the attic
rooms in a box
of miscellanea, I
found a magnificent
Maori freestanding
figure. The feeling
of excitement was
overwhelming; I
truly had discovered
a hidden treasure!
This figure now
resides in the Auckland
Museum in New Zealand and
is the finest figure of its kind
in their collection.
During my career as a
valuer and consultant I have
identified, researched and
sourced so many wonderful
pieces for clients. I have been
blessed with a wonderful
career.
Please don’t forget my motto!
‘When in doubt, check it
out!’ It is so easy to dismiss
something without realising
its true worth. Always get a
professional valuation if you
are thinking about parting
with your heirlooms. Or the
treasure in your attic will be
hidden forever!
Philip Hoare 07773 877 242
Email: [email protected]
www.wightfrog.com/islandlife