Question from Jason Metcalfe: How is the best way to get knowledge of antiques?
Kate Alcock: Hi Jason. Handle it, every time. You can read 100s of books but the best way to learn is to have it in your hand. Go to as many auction houses as you can as you're free to pick up the goods and look at them closely. Also, go through old catalogues in auction houses and see what things have made in the past. Every day I'm learning new things, so good luck!
Question from Antiques Masta: Philip, what is your obsession with buying wooden shovels?
Philip Serrell: I'm always trying to dig myself out of a hole! I think they have a grain that you can't paint and I just love the timber.
Question from Gillin Furr: There are very few working class people in high up jobs in antiques, why is this?
Philip Serrell: I think of myself as a working class person. I think that there can be a view that antiques is a bit elitist but it's not really like that. I worked my way up from working in the cattle markets so there's always an opportunity to do that.
Question from Alastair Brown: Why aren't southern auction rooms so full? Tennants was heaving, was there a special event on?
Philip Serrell: We're up in North Yorkshire at the moment and we have had a sale that's full to busting! If you get good things into a sale room, people will always come to it.
Question from Antiques Masta: Would you agree that all antiques dealers are corrupt and bent?
Philip Serrell: No! The majority of antique dealers all have an enthusiasm and interest in what they are selling and I don't believe they are corrupt in any way. We're all there to earn a living but I certainly don't think that!
Question from RaRa Rasputin: What's the worst mistake in making a purchase you've seen a contestant make?
Philip Serrell: Probably listening to me! I can remember doing a programme where a lady bought a sewing box covered in decoupage. I, David and David Barby thought it was the worst thing we'd seen and it made a profit so what do we know! That's the beauty of this programme, we can come out with opinion and we're put in our place! I think in an early programme, one of the contestants bought a device to measure the speed of boats, it was sold very far away from water and it really did bomb!! You need to buy fairly general or quirky things on Bargain Hunt! You should try and find something quirky and don't have preconceived ideas before you come on the programme.
Question from Daniel Mead: Is it worth buying John Ditchfield glass at the high price it fetches today?
Philip Serrell: It's a crystal ball question, who can tell what's going to happen tomorrow, I really don't know. Buy because you enjoy, not to invest. If you buy it because you enjoy, the price doesn't really matter that much.
Question from Chris Watson: Do you think that the auctioneer set the prices high today to get a better profit?
Philip Serrell: I think an auctioneer has a certain pride in his job that he wants to get the best price for the vendor. But if you do that, you're getting the best price for yourself too. We all want to make money, but you also want to do well for the people who entrust things to you to sell.
Question from Margaret Rist: I have a christmas tree bauble which is about 70 years old - blue glass. Would it be likely to be worth anything?
Philip Serrell: It's certainly going to be worth something but I wouldn't think it would be worth a great deal of money, unless it has a specific decoration on it.
Question from Alastair Brown: What was your favorite piece today?
Philip Serrell: I actually liked the ivory cheese scoop that Kate bought. I thought our chair did very well, I wasn't expecting that. Also I thought the Worcester figure would make a little more.
Question from Antiques Masta: With technology improving all the time, would you say computing memorabilia from the 80's is becoming fashionable?
Philip Serrell: People collect Sinclair C5 bicycles so I'm sure sooner or later someone will start collecting them, although I can't see much aesthetic value in an old motherboard.
Question from Ann Cusick: Is there 'real' competition when filming, ie do the experts or behind the scenes staff bet on the outcome?
Philip Serrell: We don't bet on the outcome - we do all get on famously well with one another. I work with everyone all over the country ... they're people I'd never have met if I didn't do this programme. I think we all try and help each other out as well.
|
|
Suggest a Star or Expert to answer your questions