November 2017

Antiques With Gary DonFeatures

Dear Gary

Could you please give me some idea of how much the attached item may be worth. It is very old but not in very good condition.

Thank You

J Rokita

Thank you for contacting me

What you have is a very well-known Bible by John Brown, a theologian who was born in 1722 and died in 1787. He wrote other works but this was his most significant and a very important publication of its time. Many of his bibles still exist today as it was very popular over the years.

He has an interesting story.  Although he never received a formal education as a shepherd, at 12 years of age he experienced a Christian conversion. He was self taught and an expert at Hebrew, Latin and Greek.

The phrase ‘The Late Rev John Brown’ on your copy shows it was re -published in the 19th century after he died. Although I cannot see an image of the publisher, one of the publishers using this book cover based in Newcastle was called Adam and Co.

Condition plays a major part in the value of books.  Collectors will pay large sums of money for a book in excellent condition and some book dealers are asking up to £350 for an excellent copy of your bible. Unfortunately in poor condition they may only sell for under £50.

Hi Gary

I have a strange looking dish with crinkled edges, could be a sweet dish at a guess. The base has a red circle part unreadable unless you know what with the exception of Slavakia stamped on, also on the base is the letter B. Also impressed in the base is the number 2814. The whole thing looks primitive. It is in perfect condition.

Hope to hear from you

Eddie

This looks to be a Slavakian copy of a Victorian Royal Worcester blush dish. Royal Worcester was copied by many English and Continental potteries. The original blush Royal Worcester was very desirable and available to only the rich people, so many manufacturers produced copies.

Today fashions have changed and blush Royal Worcester is at its lowest ebb and has been overtaken by their highly collectable fruit designs.

Sadly today your dish is worth under £20 but who knows in the future?

Dear Gary

Just a follow up to the previous sent emails, I had not heard anything back from you and was wondering if you had managed to retrieve any further info regarding the oil painting I have?

I have worked out it’s from a Dutch artist and was wondering if it was of any value?

Kind regards

Gary Chambers

Dear Gary,

This has turned into quite an adventure which is why it has taken so long to solve the mystery of your painting.

After searching through all the websites, auction records and general sales, I finally discovered that an identical painting was one of a pair by the same artist sold in John Taylors Auction Rooms on Sep 9th 2015 for £160.

I have included the image of your painting and the other one sold.

Although we now can work out the painting’s value, the mystery of how they became split up and the secrets it may hold may prove more exciting than its value.

Maybe this article may shed further light on this.

To be continued …

Hello Gary

My husband’s grandmother gave this Jardiniere to me 55 years ago. It has a number underneath 66/00.

We would love to know its age and value.

Thank you, Sandra

Dear Sandra,

I would really need to see this jardinière to value it properly. It is a quality item that could be a piece of Capo di monte from the 1950’s-60’s, or it could be a much earlier piece of antique china. The marks suggest it could possibly be one of a limited edition.

If I could touch it and examine the base, I could answer your questions immediately and that would determine if it was a valuable item. Modern china and pottery is always different to antique pieces. After many years in the business, I have learnt to understand the feel of a piece of china or fine furniture which comes with age.

Some items cannot be valued from an image, but I feel it would be worth bringing it to my auction room on York Road for me to personally look at it. You never know?

Hopefully I can then have a full answer to include next month.

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