David Barby 1949 - 2012 Antiques expert

We have just heard the sad news of the death of David Barby.

Familiar to a legion of TV antiques fans, David Barby has been a long running presenter and expert on many antiques TV programmes including Bargain Hunt, Flog It, Antiques Road Trip and more.

It seemed appropriate to write a small obituary - so with information gleaned online and with sincere condolences to his many friends and family, please accept our best wishes and sympathy.

David Barby was one of the highlights of the daytime TV antiques programmes. 

His flamboyant manner, a sense of fun, his famous stare accompanying the question

"Is that your best price?" Followed by his dead pan silence to some unfortunate antique dealer,.

Adding this to his wealth of knowledge and wit, made him one of the Bargain Hunt stars. It will not be the same without him.

David John Barby was born on 23^rd April 1949 in Rugby Warwickshire.

Becoming interested in antiques at around 12 years old, he went into this profession on leaving school and qualified at the age of 21 as a member of the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers.

Originally, he was an auctioneer and worked for a local company in Rugby before leaving to work for a London firm in 1974.

He returned to the Midlands in 1978 when he was head hunted by Leamington Spa based auction house Locke and England and became a manager and valuer and later a partner of the firm.

He established his own valuation business in the 1990s. Called David J Barby and Associates, the company was based in Hilmorton - a small village just outside Rugby. 

He was actively employed in this business at the time of his death.

David Barby was a patron of the arts, raising money for Leamington Art gallery as well as undertaking charity work and fund raising for the Royal Leamington Spa rehabilitation hospital.

His TV career began in 2002 when he featured on the first ever episode of Flog In this show he appeared as the auctioneer but later his skills were deployed as a valuation expert, later appearing in the same role on Bargain Hunt.

A canny valuer and hard bargainer - delivering outrageously low offers in such a charming way it must have been difficult to resist, he soon became known as The Master on Antiques Road Trip. 

Earlier in the year he appeared on this show up against fellow antiques expert Charles Hanson.

No doubt his fellow experts and people he worked with on these TV shows will miss him and we will look forward to seeing a tribute to his life and career later in the year.

However, he will also be sadly missed by the millions of people who tune into Bargain Hunt each day - a show beloved by pensioners, students and people who work from home.

To many people, David Barby felt like a friend rather than remote celebrity and we shall miss his company.

David Barby suffered a stroke on the 13^th July and died a week later in Coventry hospital. He was 63 years old.

Cornering the Silver Market caused the Bunker Bubble to Burst

Silver Thursday – When the silver bubble burst.

Back in the 1970s, two billionaire brothers Herbert and Nelson “Bunker” Hunt came up with a plan to get super rich by cornering the silver market.

The brothers had inherited a fortune following the death of their father the oil tycoon Haroldson Lafayette "H.L." Hunt in 1974 and now decided to invest it in silver.

Their reasoning was that if they could corner the silver market, they would drive the price up. This plan was driven by Bunker’s belief in an impending apocalypse which would spell the end for paper money.

Nelson “Bunker" Hunt believed that the silver market would act in the same way as gold market and rise in value against other investments.

So the Hunt Brothers bought all the silver they could lay their hands on and stock piled it. They bought huge amounts of silver on the commodities market and physically took delivery of it, hoarding it in Swiss bank vaults and effectively removing it from circulation.

They then used their large cash reserves to buy up silver futures. They managed to trade on the futures market by using their family name as leverage and nobody questioned that they may be buying beyond their means.



As predicted by Bunker, the price of silver rose quickly, reaching more than $50 per oz. With their money already tied up in silver the brothers continued borrowing to buy more silver and silver futures.

At their height, the Hunt brothers were assessed at owning more than one third of the world’s supply of silver, around $4.5bn worth at the prices back then. This made it hard for other purchasers to obtain silver and Tiffany the New York jeweller actually took out an ad in the New York Times condemning their actions.

It could not last. . .

On January 7th 1980 the US Government stepped in and made changes to the rules on trading limits effectively stopping the brothers from operating.

Suddenly, everyone was panic selling, and on March 27, 1980, the price of silver bombed to under $11 an ounce. This day become known as Silver Thursday and for the brothers it was distasterous. They were forced to sell and took $2 bn losses in one day.

The Hunt brothers had to face congress and they were publicly vilified.

They were fined and charged with market manipulation and forced into bankruptcy. Once known as two of the world’s richest men, it took nearly 10 years to unravel their silver holdings and satisfy their creditors and it left them billions of dollars poorer.

Ultimately, Bunker Hunt withdrew from public life and started a new life breeding racehorses, at which he has been successful. He has been helped by a $200 million trust fund set up by his father HL Hunt that could not be touched by the bankruptcy order.

Today the Hunt family remain influential and the company is are one of the largest privately held companies in the United States dealing in oil, energy, real estate, investments, ranching and infrastructure.

They are believed to be the family that the TV series Dallas was based on.


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BBC Bargain Hunt Tim Wonacott quotes Blooper

BBC bargain hunt tips - What is the Nanking Cargo?

The mysteriously named “Nanking Cargo” is often mentioned on “Bargain hunt” the BBC TV antiques show. The Nanking cargo name on a porcelain object can make a profit winning item for the Bargain Hunt teams (or at least wipe it should wipe its face!)

So, what is the “Nanking Cargo?”

Well fine bone China had to be imported from the Far East in the 16th century and this trip although long and often dangerous was well worth it for those brave enough to undertake the voyage

The Dutch East Indiaman, Geldermalsen was one of those ships barely 5 years old when she ran aground and sank on January 3, 1752 at Admiral Stellingwerf Reef.

The reef which hides just below the surface 12 miles from the island of Bintan in the South China Sea claimed the ship and crew and deposited the cargo at the bottom of the sea where it was thought it would forever remain.

However in 1986 Michael Hatcher discovered the sunken ship and her treasure.  The Geldermalsen held over 150,000 pieces of porcelain and 147 bars of gold (125 were recovered). 

Never before had such a complete cargo of porcelain been recovered from a VOC (Dutch East India Company) wreck.  The porcelain and gold cargo was sold at Christie's Auction House in Amsterdam as under the name "Nanking Cargo".

Identify and Buy Retractable Silver Swizzle Sticks

Often a winners bargain on BBC's "Bargain Hunt" is the silver swizzle stick.

The Silver Swizzle Stick is a device one can keep in a pocket or bag and use for stirring ones champagne or cocktial at a moments notice.

It is shaped a little like a tiny egg whisk and can be made of materials including plastic, glass, silver, gold and other precious metals.

The tiny spines are retractable on more expensive models and this helps protect them when not in use.

This Sterling Silver retractable Swizzle Stick is used for removing bubbles from your glass of champagne.

Swizzle Sticks have been popular for over 100 years to remove bubbles from sparkling wines.
Another use is to mix ice and spirits together.


Buy this Retractable Silver Swizzle Stick now

Size 90mm - 3.5"

£32.14
See More Information
Retractable Silver Swizzle Stick
by

JB Silverware

BBC bargain hunt tips – How to spot Real Silver?

Silver appears on every episodes of the TV show “Bargain hunt” on BBC TV. If it’s real silver then it can be valued by its weight alone. A piece of good silver can realise a good price at auction and can make a profit and even a winning item for the Bargain Hunt teams (or at least wipe its face!)

But . . .


How do you spot real silver?

Many things for sale that purport to be silver are not real silver. Sometimes these items are sold as silver by a lack of knowledge on the part of the seller and sometimes other motives are unfortunately used.

A knowledge of hallmarks is important here and I would suggest that you take a look at this hallmarks guide featured at the bottom of this page.

Also you should learn the terms below that refer to silver styled items that are often mistakenly advertised as silver.

Sterling Silver Plate
Sterling Silverplate – This doesn’t exist even though you will see it advertised because sterling is an alloy it is unsuitable to use as a silver source for plating.

E.P.N.S
This stands for Electro Plated Nickel-Silver. Common variations on this are E.P., E.P.C. (Electro Plate on Copper), E.P.W.M. (Electro Plate on White Metal), E.P.B. or E.P.B.M. (Electro Plate on Britannia Metal).

(See More about this)

Any item marked with E.P. is silverplate and as such has no precious metal value.

Nickel Silver
Nickel-Silver is a common base metal alloy consisting of nickel, copper and zinc. There is no silver in it whatsoever. The name was coined because the metal is silvery in colour and polishes to a shine. Other names used for the same metal are: Alpacca or Alpacca Silver; Brazil Silver; German Silver; Peru Silver; New York Silver; New Silver; Nevada Silver; Norwegian Silver; Silverite; Venetian Silver; Potosi Silver; and Sonora Silver to name just a few.

(Nickel-silver is strong and durable but it doesn't have any metal value).

White Metal
White Metal - This is a silvery coloured alloy usually containing a mixture of antimony, tin, lead, zinc, and cadmium. In the U.K. the British fine arts trade uses the term 'white metal' to describe all foreign items which do not have official British Assay Office marks struck on them.

Brittania Metal
Britannia Metal is a non-silver base metal similar to pewter which is popular because it is durable and polishes to a silver-like lustre. This is an alloy of 93% tin, 5% antimony and 2% copper. Not to be confused with 958 Britannia from Great Britain.




BUY A SILVER TESTING KIT

BBC bargain hunt tips - What is Royal Crown derby?

Derby ceramics are often a profit maker on episodes of the TV show “Bargain hunt” on BBC TV. The Crown derby pieces are always popular in the show and are still sought after by collectors.

The Royal crown Derby name on a piece of porcelain can make a winning item for the Bargain Hunt teams (or at least wipe its face!)

One of the important things to be aware of with these ceramics is the continued history of the company from its small beginnings to its failures and successes.

In 1745 André Planché, a Huguenot immigrant from Saxony, settled in Derby, where he met and formed a business partnership with William Duesbury, a porcelain painter formerly at the Chelsea porcelain factory, and the banker John Heath.

This was the foundation of the Derby Company, although Planché disappeared from the scene almost at once, and the business was developed by Duesbury and Heath.

A talented entrepreneur, Duesbury developed a new paste which contained glass frit, soap rock and calcined bone. This enabled the factory to begin producing high-quality tableware. He quickly established Derby as a leading manufacturer of dinner services and figurines by employing the best talents available for modelling and painting.

In 1770, Duesbury added to the high reputation of Derby by his acquisition of the famous Chelsea porcelain factory in London. He continued the factory and products of this period are known as "Chelsea-Derby."

In 1784 he demolished the buildings and transferred the assets, including the stock, patterns and moulds, and many of the workmen, to Derby.

In 1773, Duesbury’s hard work was rewarded by King George III, who after visiting the Derby works granted him permission to incorporate the royal crown into the Derby back stamp, after which the company was known as Crown Derby.

In 1786, William Duesbury died, leaving the company to his son, William Duesbury II, also a talented director, who besides keeping the reputation of the company at its height developed a number of new glazes and body types.

However William Duesbury II died in 1797 at the age of 34 and the company was taken over by his business partner, an Irishman named Michael Kean, who later married Duesbury's widow.

Michael Kean was not such a good director and many of the highly skilled workforce, and many eminent artists left. Although others produced good work under his management, including Moses Webster, a flower painter who replaced Billingsley, Richard Dodson (who specialised in birds), George Robertson (land - and seascapes) and Cuthbert Lawton (hunting scenes).

The best-known artist of this time was William Pegg, a Quaker, famed for his striking and idiosyncratic flower painting. He started in 1797 but his religious beliefs led him to the conclusion that painting was sinful and he left in 1800. He returned in 1813, but left again in 1820.

Despite much good work, the Kean period was disruptive and the company suffered financially.

William Duesbury III, took over the factory when he came of age in 1791, and Kean having sold his interest to his father-in-law, William Duesbury's grandfather, named Sheffield, the concern continued under the name of Duesbury & Sheffield.

In 1815, the factory was leased to the firm's salesman and clerk, Robert Bloor, and the Duesburys left all control to him. Bloor borrowed heavily to be able to make the payments demanded but proved himself to be a highly able businessman in his ways of recouping losses and putting the business back on a sound financial footing.

Under Bloor the company produced works that were richly coloured and elegantly styled, including brightly coloured Japanese Imari patterns, generally featuring intricate geometric patterns layered with various floral designs. These designs proved extremely and lastingly popular, and Derby continued to thrive.

In 1845, however, Bloor died, and after three years under Thomas Clarke, the Cockpit Works were sold and the factory closed in 1848.

A group of former employees set up a factory in King Street in Derby, and continued to use the moulds, patterns and trademarks of the former business, although not the name, so keeping alive the Derby traditions of fine craftsmanship. No mechanical processes were used, and no two pieces produced were exactly the same.

In 1877, an impressive new factory was built by new owners of the Crown Derby name in Osmaston Road, Derby, thus beginning the modern period of Derby porcelain. Crown Derby’s patterns became immensely popular during the late Victorian era, as their romantic and lavish designs exactly met the popular taste of the period.

In 1890, Queen Victoria appointed Crown Derby to be “Manufacturers of porcelain to Her Majesty” and by Royal Warrant granted them the title "The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company".

In 1935 Royal Crown Derby acquired the King Street factory, thus reuniting the two strands of the business.

In 1964, the company was acquired by S. Pearson and Son and became part of the Allied English Potteries Group, later to be joined by Royal Doulton.

BBC bargain hunt tips - What is Moorcroft Pottery?

Moorcroft pottery is often a profit maker on episodes of the TV show “Bargain hunt” on BBC TV.

The Moorcroft pottery is one of the last remaining independent art potteries in the world today and still operates out of the original brick factory in Stoke-on-Trent.

It is currently fashionable and sought after in the antiques trade and with the Moorcroft name on a piece of pottery can make a winning item for the Bargain Hunt teams (or at least wipe its face!)

Originally founded in 1897 within a larger ceramic company, James Macintyre & Co. Moorcroft pottery soon made its mark on the world. Designs came from 24 year old William Moorcroft who personalised each piece of pottery produced with his own signature or initials.

In 1912 the inevitable split occurred. William took his team to a new factory in Sandbach Road where Moorcroft pottery is still made today. The money for this venture came from Liberty, the famous London store and Liberty continued to control Moorcroft until 1962.

In 1904, Moorcroft won a gold medal at the St Louis International Exhibition and followed up the achievement with further medals and commendations, culminating in the appointment of the Moorcroft Company as Potter to HM The Queen in 1928.

In 1962, the Moorcroft family bought out Liberty, but Moorcroft seldom prospered. Finally, in 1984, the family sold the bulk of their shares on the open market. After several material shareholder changes in the mid-1980’s and early 1990’s, Moorcroft is now controlled by the Edwards family, and has been since 1993.

In 1993, Rachel Bishop joined Moorcroft as only its fourth designer in almost a hundred years. Just 24 years old, she was soon to see sales of her work flourish. Following that success came the Moorcroft centenary in 1997, and in the same year the Moorcroft Design Studio was formed, originally comprising no less than eight designers with Rachel at their head.

Recently the world profile of Moorcroft has grown internationally, both in quality and in perceived value. Auctioneers Christies hold a dedicated Moorcroft sale each year. In 2001, Sotheby’s New York holds a major sale comprising many pieces of Moorcroft pottery. The Victoria & Albert museum has joined many other national museums with significant pieces of Moorcroft pottery in their permanent collections.

Today, Moorcroft leads the world of art pottery with its own distinctive design style. With added value coming from the skills and craftsmanship of a dedicated workforce, Moorcroft is selling more of its magnificent ware all over the world today, than it did even in its previous heyday in the mid-1920’s.

BBC Bargain Hunt tips - What is Murano Glass?

Murano glass is often a profit maker on episodes of the TV show “Bargain hunt” on BBC TV. Murano glass is the beautifully clear or highly coloured glass products that can fetch a pretty penny (or at least wipe its face!)

Widely desired by glass collectors all around the world, items made from this elegant glass are beautiful and useful. But with so many reproductions and modern re issues, how can you be sure that the glass object you are fondling is the real thing.

Just what is Murano Glass?

Murano glass is a product of Italy that is found on the Isle of Murano, just north of Venice, Italy. It is specifically treated to create highly prized glass objects. Colourful and unique, Italian Murano glass is manufactured without the use of nickel or lead. Murano Glassmakers have been using their techniques to produce art and jewellery from glass from the beginning of the 9th Century. The same methods are still followed by Murano glassmakers today.

Murano glass comes only from Italy; it is high in clarity, with vibrant colours that appear to have an inner glow. Glass products range from crystal clear, to vibrant reds, blues, and yellows. All Murano glass will be high in clarity, and of good quality. Imitations are easily identified by their poor quality, heavy weight, and little or no clarity.

Items listed as Murano Style have been made in other countries.

Objects made from authentic Murano glass are constructed by hand, which makes them rather expensive. Each piece is a rare design, and no two objects are the same. Using glass that has turned from liquid to solid, glassmakers can shape it into artistic designs before it is completely hard. When the object has been shaped, it is given a unique number of authenticity. This number is usually located on the bottom of the object and can be seen with a magnifying glass. Modern day glassmakers use holographic stickers that contain the authentic number. Genuine Murano glass objects are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

Murano glass is fairly low maintenance and only requires an occasional gentle dusting. Use a damp lint free cloth to remove marks or stains, and glasses or stemware should be washed by hand with mild liquid soap and warm water. Cracks or chips can be ground, surfaced, and repaired by a glass specialist with extensive experience in repairing damaged glass.

Antiques Road Trip new series on the BBC

Popular Antiques Road Show spin-off, Antiques Road Trip, which is made for the BBC by STV, has returned for its new series. And this time you will be able to enjoy 15 extra minutes on every one of the 30 new journeys as they are extended from 30 minutes to 45.

The first series of Antiques Road Trip has proved to be hugely successful in its early evening BBC Two slot, attracting audiences of up to 2.6 million.

The series pairs Britain’s best loved antiques experts and sends them on a road trip across the UK. During the first series eight of television’s best known experts competed and put their knowledge to the test as they looked to make a fortune in the auction house, travelling the UK along the way.

The return of Antiques Road Trip will delight Anita, who previously said of filming the show, Anita said:  

“It was an utterly nail biting experience.”

“ I laughed a lot but there were also times when I could have burst into tears - on the way I made some huge profits and even bigger losses - but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.”

The experts hit the road in their beautiful vintage cars, and with a sum of £200 they travel through the UK seeking out antique shops and buying low to sell high at auction at the end of each show.

Alan Clements, director of content for STV, said:  “We’re delighted that audiences are enjoying Antiques Road Trip and are thrilled to be producing a second and longer series for the BBC.

“It’s a fantastic format with some brilliant characters, which really appeals to viewers, and we can’t wait to get cracking on the next instalment.”

BBC Bargain Hunt - Charles Hanson Auction Profile

Gold and silver questions? See the site

Charles Hanson…We say sale!

Charles Hanson is a popular figure on BBC TV’s Bargain Hunt both as an antiques expert and as an auctioneer. With his a quirky dress sense – often appearing in suits that seem slightly too small for him and his youthful looking appearance. This belies the fact that he is well respected in the antiques world and is the owner of his own auction house that he set up in 2005.

Auctioneer and expert valuer Kate Bliss also works there.

Presenter Tim Wonnacott often refers to Charles Hanson as “Carlos”, for no particular reason that anyone can see, but somehow the name suits him.

Although Charles is good fun as an expert and no slouch at finding great bargains for his team, his auctioneering style is very entertaining.

The first thing you may notice is his rather hoarse voice. He shouts encouragement at his audience and has a range of great phrases. Look and listen out for “We say sale” and lots of, "I’m in your out”…type expressions all delivered amidst copious sips of water. His obvious enthusiasm is infectious and he often perseveres to get good prices.

The mysterious Miss Hornblower is becoming a feature of the Charles Hanson auction house when the Bargain Hunt Team is in town. Perhaps she always goes or perhaps she is lured by the cameras. Whoever she is, this smartly dressed audience member has been the saviour of many a bargain hunt team offering a dodgy item for sale!

BBC Bargain Hunt - David Harper Biography

David Kingsley Harper (born 1967) is a British TV antiques expert and published writer.

He is an expert on BBC's Bargain Hunt; Put your Money where Your Mouth Is, Cash in the Attic and The Antiques Road Trip.

He has featured on Through the Keyhole, Ready Steady Cook and presented pieces for The One Show, Inside Out and Country file Summer Diaries.

Although David is from the north of England and lives in Teesdale in South Durham, he also spent several years growing up in Africa and went to school in Zimbabwe.

From the age of 18, David spent 20 years self employed in Business. In his time, he has owned and run many businesses from printing companies to property developing - in fact since the age of 18 he’s been self employed.

In this time he has in fact had one job in the corporate world, where, because of his antique expertise was offered the position of sales director of a Thai/UK PLC company which imported antique style rubber wood furniture from the far east.

At 25, David was one of the youngest sales directors of a PLC in Britain.

David found his way into TV through his lifelong passions for antiques and classic cars. His first TV role was in 2005 as presenter of Channel 4's Natural Born Dealers.

Since then David has presented shows for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 including Country file, Inside Out, Bargain Hunt, The Heaven & Earth Show, The One Show, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is and Natural Born Dealers. He’s also appeared on Celebrity Ready Steady Cook and has been featured on Through the Keyhole.

Antiques have always been David’s passion and he has been an antique dealer for more than 20 years, working with collectors, dealers and designers from all over the world, exhibiting at international top end fairs, writing for newspapers and magazines and buying for private and corporate clients.

He’s bought and sold individual items from a few pounds to tens of thousands of pounds. David has over 40 internationally published antique articles to his credit and has an antique shop in the historic market town of Barnard Castle in County Durham (home of the Bowes Museum)

David Harper Antiques.

BBC Bargain Hunt - Anita Manning Biography

Classy Scot Anita Manning is a long term expert on BBC's Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road trip and Flog it.

Her infectious enthusiasm for her subject has made her an ambassador for the antiques profession.

Anita's always been interested in antiques, and has been buying and selling them for forty years. She runs an auction house in Scotland with her daughter Lala.

Anita's specialist area is paintings, and her favourite era is 20th Century Scottish contemporary artists.

Anita Louisa Manning was born on the 1st December in Glasgow.
Growing up in the 50s and 1960s Anita Manning was not a fan of the contemporary design and trends and preferred the Victorian look and feel of her grandparents’ house.

As a child her father used to take her to the auctions. She grew to love this environment with its treasures, excitement and its sense of theatre

Anita enjoyed finding and wearing stylish 20, 30,s and 40,s clothes to go out in at the weekends,

Anita Says: “I need colour in my life”.

In 1988 her skill at both buying and selling antiques led her to establish Great Western Auctions Ltd in Glasgow and was probably Scotland’s first female Auctioneer.

Anita was made for this stage; she has not been labelled the 'Golden Gavel' without cause. The toast of the Fred McAuley Show (every morning on Radio Scotland) she puts her talents to good use.

Anita Pulls in the punters and makes the auction user friendly and pure theatre.

Anita says:
“There has been an elimination of the rarefied atmosphere of the bigger auction houses”. You can relax and enjoy the sale and bid for anything from a box of pots from a house clearance to a Georgian Bureau”.

Spend a fiver or five thousand - you will always go away happy and be back for more.



Jackson's Hallmarks: English, Scottish, Irish Silver and Gold Marks from 1300 to the Present Day - Save £1.39 (20%) £5.56 from Amazon

This handy-sized guide is the most accurate and up to date on the market. and has been the bible for for scholars, dealers and collectors, selling in hundreds of thousands.

This edition contains complete cycles of silver marks for all the important Assay Offices, with variations shown for gold, platinum, Britannia Standard, import marks, etc, and has been updated to 1991 to include current assay marks.  See on Amazon UK

BBC Bargain Hunt - Phillip Serrell Biography

Plain talking Grammar School boy Phillip Serrell was born and brought up in Worcestershire where he is now established as a professional auctioneer.

Well known for his television appearances on various antiques programmes, Philip is also an accomplished after dinner speaker and a welcome attraction with his new show 'An Auctioneer's Lot' in which he recounts enthralling stories drawn from his life experiences in sport, antiques, auctioneering, broadcasting and writing books.

He graduated from Loughborough College of Physical Education as sport was, and is, an enduring passion...

“If I had devoted as much time to academia as I did to cricket and rugby I would surely have been, at the very least, a double Oxbridge first,” he says.

However, life as a sports teacher was not for him and he took up the post of trainee auctioneer in Worcester, working in the local livestock market – much of the time spent cleaning out the sheep pens…

“a task, some would maintain, I was suitably qualified for, as by then I was completely unemployable.”

From there Philip re-qualified as a Chartered Surveyor, specialising as a Fine Art and Antiques valuer, which in turn resulted in him running his own auctioneering business from his saleroom in Malvern and office in Worcester.

Philip recorded a regular antiques slot on his local BBC radio station, and from there he went on to become a resident ‘expert on BBC's Bargain Hunt’ He makes several BBC television antiques programmes – namely Bargain Hunt and Flog It!

More recently he has also appeared on the 20th Century Roadshow, presenting their classic car feature – a role which he embraced as it allowed him to indulge his other passion for motor cars.
During the course of the past twenty years he has uncovered a huge range of priceless (and worthless) antiques, and along the way, met, done business with and befriended folk from some odd corners of English Life.

In his first book, "An Auctioneer’s Lot", he brings to life a world in which the most valuable antiques frequently turn up in the most unlikely places – and accompanied by the most colourful characters - from a priceless 18th Century dining table hidden away in a decaying potting shed, to that of a tattooed gypsy with a penchant for Worcester Porcelain.

An Auctioneers Lot by Phillip Serrell

BBC Bargain Hunt - Tim Wonnacott Biography

Tim started attending auctions from a very tender age, watching his father conduct sales for the family firm during the school holidays.

His first experience of auctioneering (selling the contents of a kitchen at the end of a farm sale) when aged around 16 or so, led him to pursue a career as a professional in the auction and property business.

Qualifying as a Chartered Auctioneer and Chartered Surveyor enabled him to gather considerable experience in the provinces, but in order to further his interest in the field of Fine Art auctioneering; he was inevitably drawn to London.

Following a post-graduate course at the V & A’s study centre for the Fine and Decorative Arts, he joined Sotheby’s in London in 1978, becoming a junior Director in 1983 and full Director in 1985.

In September 1998, he was appointed Chairman of Sotheby’s South saleroom in Sussex and in 2001, became Chairman of Sotheby’s new saleroom at Olympia in London, dual roles which he held until January 2003.

Tim started his career at Sotheby’s nearly 25 years ago in London, working principally in the Furniture Department.

His main area of expertise lies in this field, but over the last twenty years with Sotheby’s, he developed a considerable breadth of experience throughout the decorative arts, including clocks, barometers, 19th century sculpture and works of art, ceramics and silver. He has conducted auction sales throughout the United Kingdom, North America and such far flung places as India!

Tim is now very well known as master of ceremonies and expert on BBC's Bargain Hunt.

Tim has helped many Charities over the years to raise money at auction, the most successful of which was the London ‘Cow Parade’ auction held in autumn 2002, which raised over £400,000 for Childline!