Category archives: Company News

When valuing jewellery and chattels (personal belongings) for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in the UK, there are specific requirements and guidelines that need to be followed, particularly when dealing with probate, Inheritance Tax, or capital gains tax. Here’s an overview of the key HMRC requirements for such valuations: 1. Professional Valuation Qualified Valuer: HMRC […]

I discovered this pair of magnificent gothic revival gold bracelets set with sugar loaf and cabochon sapphires on a standard probate valuation in Hove. I was informed by the family that there was only a collection of costume jewellery, so imagine my surprise and sheer delight when I spied these amongst the items present. I […]

The Naval General Service Medal has to be my favourite campaign medal not only for it’s beautiful design but also for the diversity of naval battles and boat actions that it was awarded for. William Wyon the designer, chief engraver at the Royal Mint from 1828 until his death in 1851, was an absolute master […]

We are valuing stamps on a daily basis and understandably, for many, their value is a mystery.  The majority of these collections were started as a child’s hobby and generally are very mixed and of low value but just occasionally we come across collections assembled with great care and at great expense by serious stamp […]

We provide classic car valuations for sale, probate and insurance purposes. I have just valued for insurance purposes a beautiful and highly desirable classic car. It is an Aston Martin DB 2/4 Mk3 in sage green from 1959. It has the Lagonda straight 6 engine with twin SU carburettors. The elegant curvaceous body is coachbuilt […]

We were recently called in to value the contents of a large country house in Mid Sussex and amongst the various antiques was a collection of Chinese Qianlong blue and white porcelain from the 18th century. These standard pieces of porcelain have an enhanced value because they are from the famous Nanking Cargo. A treasure […]

WRITING A WILL – YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED It is vitally important to have an up to date will to avoid any problems following your death. Here we answer some frequently asked questions to help you create the perfect will. WHO SHOULD ADVISE YOU ON WRITING A WILL? There are DIY will writing kits available from […]

DO I REQUIRE A PROBATE VALUATION AND IF SO WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? If you are an executor of an estate you need to arrive a total value of the estate for submission to HMRC. This may include the money, stocks and shares, property, possessions, jewellery chattels and cars. If it looks like […]

We regularly undertake insurance valuations but never before in the most famous and expensive area of real estate in Britain, possibly the world. The grand properties in Kensington Palace Gardens comprise many diplomatic buildings and homes for the famous and super rich. Unsurprisingly it is often referred to as “billionaires row”. The road was originally […]

We recently undertook an insurance valuation of a collection of silver and the stand out piece was this monumental silver Warwick style 2-handled vase with applied masks and entwined vine handles, on a circular embossed foot engraved with the maker’s name of Elkington & Co. It has the date letter on the hallmark for Birmingham […]

The Rolex Daytona first appeared in the early 1960s with a hand wound Valjoux movement but in 1988 they redesigned it. They increased the size from 37mm to 40mm, replaced the plexiglass glass with sapphire crystal and incorporated a heavily adapted Zenith El Primero 400 movement, which was reputedly the first automatic chronograph movement originally […]

We undertake hundreds of probates every year and so often the majority of the value is tied up in the jewellery. HMRC like to see the jewellery from an estate listed with more valuable pieces being accurately described and valued. This is different from the rest of the chattels in a property where an overall […]

I valued this beautiful late 19th century Austrian singing bird box automaton last year for probate and have now been asked to sell it on behalf of the beneficiaries. It is made of silver gilt and is ornately and finely decorated with wirework decoration and cloisonné enamel birds and flowers and gem set with coloured […]

The long established Swiss watchmakers Breitling were first founded in 1884 and throughout the 20th century were at the forefront of producing fine chronographs. Their first chrono wristwatch (1915), the first to produce a two-pusher chrono (1923) and the first to patent a chrono incorporating a circular slide rule (1940). This watch was called the […]

We recently collected this handsome pair of George II cast silver candlesticks by the important Huguenot silversmith Ayme Videau. They are hallmarked for London 1743 and weigh an impressive 57 oz. Videau specialised in this flamboyant rococo style which was so fashionable at the time. He was apprenticed to David Willaume in 1723 and gained […]

We are often called in to help people downsize and advise them on what to sell and how to achieve the best price. If we can broker a sale directly to a collector or a dealer then this can often be more financially beneficial, as compared to an auction, because of the substantially lower commission […]

We have handled some fine studio pottery and ceramics over the years by Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Edmund deWaal, Bernard Leach, Magdalene Odundo and William Staite Murray and just recently a small but beautiful collection by a less well known, but in my opinion, underrated  potter called Quentin Bell. His mother was Vanessa Bell and […]

If a book was published with a cover, which is referred to as a dust jacket, then it follows that it is worth more if it still retains it. This has even more significance when considering the value of a first edition. However, if that book has been languishing on the bookshelf in a house […]

The famous Penny Black was the first adhesive postage stamp which was first issued on the 1st May 1840 but was not in fact valid for use until May 6th. This pair comes from a vast collection of British and Commonwealth stamps that I have just taken in for sale and includes other penny blacks […]

Last year I went to a property in Brighton to carry out a probate valuation of a collection of classic cars and arranged for them to be sold at a classic car auction. I attended the auction in Duxford last week and am delighted to report that all of the cars found new homes with […]

The environmental benefits of not buying new are being recognised by more and more consumers. In a recent survey, conducted by the Auction Technology Group, 58% of people interviewed understood that buying second-hand furniture is greener than buying new. They understand that any emissions from a piece of furniture’s original manufacture can be assumed to […]

Gold coins should not be sold in an auction because you will not achieve their true value, after deduction of the auctioneer’s commission. Simply put gold coins like Sovereigns, Krugerrands, Brittanias and many European, American and South American gold coins are only worth their bullion price, which fluctuates on a daily basis. Here is a […]

Enicar watches are climbing in value, so try and track one down for your collection as they could prove to be a great investment. Founded in 1913 by Ariste Racine, the name being a reversal of his surname, hence Enicar. The Enicar Sherpa was developed to withstand great changes in temperature and pressure. It was […]

We recently sold a collection of antique guns for one of our clients. Formed with care and attention throughout his lifetime he was loathed to part with them but unfortunately ill health prevented him from indulging his passion any longer. He wasn’t keen on the idea of his collection being broken up and sold as […]

I was delighted to be the Charity Auctioneer and co-host at the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity Ball at the Grand Hotel Brighton and help to raise £60,000. It was great to be at a fundraising ball for the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19. There was such a lovely atmosphere and everyone was so generous […]

Our experts provide coin valuations for sale, probate and insurance purposes. In the world of coin collecting, the most critical factors are the condition and scarcity. We have experience in selling everything from single coins to large collections, from Roman and Celtic through to modern day limited proof sets. Coins with a small production run […]

We provide painting valuations for sale, probate and insurance purposes. This delightful oil painting, by one of my favourite artists, was recently valued by my company for insurance purposes. It depicts barges on the Thames by Edward Seago (1910 – 1974). Born in East Anglia his prodigious talent developed from a young age and his […]

The joy of our job is that no two days are ever the same because you never know what you might find. Yesterday whilst attending at a solicitor’s office to undertake a probate valuation of jewellery and silver, I discovered, much to my delight, a singing bird box. They do occasionally appear for sale at […]

Occasionally on a probate valuation we discover treasures that even the family are unaware of and recently one of our team found one such item at the back of a cupboard. Normally if we find a violin case it houses a quite ordinary, usually German, violin that generally sells for less than £200. However, on […]

Every week in the Antiques Trade Gazette, the newspaper of choice for the antiques trade and auctioneers, there is a feature on pieces that have sold for a figure well in excess of the guide price. Frequently a Chinese work of art or antique is the focus of attention but it is also just as […]

We are often asked to buy or sell antique pistols and revolvers and as a firm of independent valuers we can negotiate the very best price for collections of antique firearms and militaria. Often these will be antique weapons that don’t require a Firearms License like flintlock, percussion boxlock and pinfire pistols, revolvers and rifles. […]

A fine pair of Paul Storr silver salt cellars with gilded scallop shell bowls raised on sea creature legs have just been valued for sale purposes for a client in London. Dating from the 1820s by an important maker they were expected to realise in the region of £1000 – 1500 when they came up […]

Vintage watches and sports watches continue to be an excellent investment. Demand for vintage wrist watches, in particular mens watches, remains unabated. Prices continue to rise particularly for sports watches, top makers, and anything horologically unusual or rare. However, aside from the great names like Patek Phillipe, Rolex and Omega, there are still interesting opportunities […]

This stunning Lucie Rie footed bowl was discovered by Nicholas Muston, on a probate valuation, amongst a large collection of over 100 pieces of studio pottery. It was purchased directly from artist in the late 1980s and comes with a signed letter. It has a diameter of 20cm and stands 10cm high. Decorated with a […]

We provide medal valuations for Sale, Probate and Insurance Purposes We were asked to sell the contents of a small 2 bedroom house in West Sussex and among the items was a Tupperware box containing a fascinating collection of medals. They were all Civil Orders awarded to a Mr Franz Johannes Gunther. As General Director […]

Diamond valuations for Sale, Probate and Insurance Purposes De Beers, the world’s leading diamond company, first coined the slogan “Diamonds are Forever” in 1947 as part of a brilliant advertising campaign that they still use today. The marketing suggests a diamond represents eternal love and affection for your partner. A boom in sales of diamond […]

It is not every day of the week that you are asked to appraise and subsequently sell items linked to Sir Donald Campbell and the famous water speed record breaking boat Bluebird but last year we were asked to do just that. The mechanics that helped build and design the boat were Ken and Lew […]

The photograph is of a handsome George VI Sandhurst Military College ceremonial bass drum finely painted with the Royal Coat of Arms. It is a sobering thought to think how many fine officers that marched to the beat of this drum at their passing out parade were then sadly lost in the Second World War.

The photograph shows just a few silver wine tasters which were part of a much larger collection that we valued for probate. They ranged in date from the 18th century to the early part of the 20th century, with most being made in France. We subsequently arranged for them to be sold, on behalf of […]

We recently attended at a house to conduct a probate valuation and discovered a mixed collection of Art Nouveau and Art Deco glassware. There were pieces of cameo glass by Gallé, Daum and DeVez, irridescent glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany and Loetz and a selection of Lalique.  

This pretty Victorian gold and garnet set scroll brooch with pendant drop suspension was amongst a good collection of jewellery that we valued for probate purposes. Generally speaking brooches are not the easiest items of jewellery to sell but they have had a revival in the last few years and a piece of this quality […]

I have just finished cataloguing, for auction, a collection of stamps that I recently took in for sale on behalf of a client. In the world of philately high value stamps are generally much rarer and therefore much more sought after and more valuable to a collector. The photograph shows a Victorian 5 shilling in […]

Discovered on a probate valuation in the back of a garage under layers of carpet and tarpaulin were an Austin J40 (blue) and the even rarer Austin Pathfinder (white) pedal cars. Both in desperate need of some TLC but even in this condition highly prized. They were produced in South Wales by disabled miners. The […]

The humble bronze penny is 160 years old this year. This particular example actually dates to a bit later but is a lovely example in Extremely Fine (EF) condition, some might grade it is Uncirculated (Unc) but I always like to err on the side of caution and then you can never be accused of […]

Part of our sales service for clients is recommending the best method of selling their prized possessions or collection. Sometimes we arrange a sale via a specialist auction house, or directly to a dealer and occasionally, when the time it takes to sell the items is not so critical, we offer the pieces to our […]

We sold this tiny Chinese vase, standing just 3.5 inches high, for one of our clients via an International auction room for a staggering £13,000. A delicate vase with a geometric floral ground and enamelled in imitation of cinnabar lacquer from the Qianlong period. Guided at £5000 – £8000 it was helped in no small […]

In amongst a table of mixed silverware one of our valuers was delighted to discover a piece of Arts and Crafts silver by the renowned partnership of Omar Ramsden and Alwyn Carr. A sweet hexagonal form dish set with beautiful green enamel heart shape motifs around the rim. It is engraved underneath “Omar Ramsden et […]

De Beers, the world’s leading diamond company, first coined the slogan “Diamonds are Forever” in 1947 as part of a brilliant advertising campaign that they still use today. The marketing suggests a diamond represents eternal love and affection for your partner. A boom in sales of diamond engagement rings resulted from that ad campaign and […]

In the course of our probate valuation work we encounter properties that were occupied by hoarders. Some rooms are so full that they are impossible to enter and the job of valuing is very difficult. We can ascertain quite quickly if there is going to be anything of value hidden among the piles of items […]

Every week in the Antiques Trade Gazette, the newspaper of choice for the antiques trade and auctioneers, there is a feature on pieces that have sold for a figure well in excess of the guide price. Frequently a Chinese work of art or antique is the focus of attention but it is also just as […]

For many years men’s watches have been a popular area of collecting. Not only are they useable but for the right make or model a very sound and profitable investment. Prices have risen dramatically in recent years, no doubt helped by the fact that watches, like clocks, do not attract capital gains tax. It is […]

It is not every day of the week that you are asked to appraise and subsequently sell items linked to Sir Donald Campbell and the famous water speed record breaking boat Bluebird but last year we were asked to do just that. The mechanics that helped build and design the boat were Ken and Lew […]

An unassuming Tupperware box revealed the life of an interesting gentleman. Whilst going through the contents of her parent’s house our client came across a box of medals and vaguely remembered hearing that her father purchased them from an antique shop in the 1950’s but was unable to discover too much about them. As these […]