PROFITABLE THOUGHTS ON SPRING-CLEANING

Some cautionary advice from John Gilding, Auctioneer

As the daffodils and crocuses beckon the warmer days and the sun makes its first fleeting appearance, we are inclined to begin to think about the annual 'spring-clean' - it's a time when many people contemplate clearing out cupboards and attics, when it can be tempting to throw out the old, the worn out and the obsolete. Despite the publicity of the BBC TV's Antiques Roadshow, which has done so much to alert people to the possible value of all sorts of bygones, we still hear stories of individuals discarding valuable items. This is, I suppose, partly a result of the extraordinary range of objects which are now of interest to collectors and dealers. Three examples may sound a cautionary note to anyone planning a 'clear out'.

Amongst a recent consignment to our Roman Way salerooms we discovered a rather unusual typewriter: the basic mechanism was supported on a mahogany base, and the ribbon was threaded from a central reel serving the 32 keys. The label 'Moya, Made in Leicester' emphasised that this was something a little out of the ordinary. Hidalgo Moya, a Spanish-American had had some involvement in the typewriter industry in America and came to Britain in 1902 with his own designs, anxious to manufacture the first English machine, of what we now consider to be conventional, design. With the backing of a Leicester businessman, a small factory was established in Garton Street (now the site of Leicester Royal Infirmary Maternity Wing) and, in early 1903, the first Moya No. 1 machine came onto the market, priced at five guineas. We learned that several examples of the more sophisticated No. 2 typewriter, manufactured shortly before the business took the name of the Imperial Typewriter Company, had appeared in sales at Christies, but our machine appeared to be the first example of the prototype model to be recognised and offered at auction. Following enquiries from as far afield as Switzerland, our typewriter sold for £520, thus establishing a market price and having enabled us to rewrite a small chapter in the story of our industrial heritage.

Included in the same sale earlier this year were a pair of rather sad looking Teddy bears: their plush was faded and worn, their seams frayed and their paws long ago replaced. Clearly the bears had been much loved! They had been gifts to twins sisters in 1906 and were in effect twin bears, each being 16 inches tall, having characteristic long noses and slightly humped backs; both significantly retained the original Steiff metal 'button' label clipped into the left ear. Margarete Steiff's small factory in Wurttemberg, Germany had been established in 1894 making felt toys; Teddy bears were manufactured from around 1904, so this meant our 'twins' could be counted amongst the earliest bears. Inevitably, despite their poor condition our bears attracted a great deal of interest and realised £2050. happily the 'twins' were purchased by the same collector and won't be separated.

A painting of Shipping in the Port of London was discovered by one of our valuers in a farm attic. It had clearly been discarded many years before, probably as a result of a tear across the canvas. Nevertheless the work was recognisable as that of Charles James De Lacy, an eminent seascape artist. De Lacy (fl 1885-1930) had, as a young man, served as a naval engineer and his best paintings feature shipping: his scenes of the Thames are enviably well defined and accurately depicted. Our painting, despite the obvious need for substantial restoration, sold for £1200, to the amazement of the original owner.

We hope that this account will spur readers on to see just what is tucked away in the attic. If any further encouragement is needed perhaps I should add that the months of March, April and May are amongst the busiest in the auction sale year. With the improving weather, many people begin to think about redecorating and refurbishing, so antique furniture and works of art are in great demand, whilst collectors and enthusiasts continue to scour the auction rooms searching for the rare or unusual. May your 1995 spring-clean prove to be a profitable experience!

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