Many of the trade turn out for the Walcot closing auction

Above: The backs of Rod Donaldson, Marcus Olliff, Sam Coster, Dean Cannadine, Rob Thomas, Rupert Woods and auctioneers on the mezzanine.

Bath, Somerset, UK - AT the beginning of Walcot Reclamation's two day sale on Monday and Tuesday 15th and 16th February 2010, the yard at Bathampton was swathed in fog and freezing drizzle. However, this did not put off the crowds of people registering in a frenzy at a small booth inside the warehouse where the auction would take place.

On Monday morning it became clear that the auction was moving along slowly but lots were reaching good prices. There seemed to be a hint of sentimentality in the air for the possible demise of one of the UK's first reclamation yards. This perhaps helped push up prices. For example lot 66, A pair of bath stone ball finials estimated at £100-£150 went for £750.

Dean Cannadine, Architectural Salvage Source, Herts said, "Everything's very expensive at the moment. We're here for the materials, which are being sold tomorrow."

On Tuesday afternoon, things were still going well. Graham Cockle of BCVA Auctioneers said "At present we are above target and very pleased. The advertising we did with Salvo has been the best for bringing in the trade."

Damian Cronin of Woodstone, Surrey, (who started at Walcot) said, "All the usual suspects are present. All lots are making good money. If Rick had done this a year ago, perhaps he could have saved a pioneering business." Rick Knapp, owner of Walcot Reclamation Ltd, placed the company in administration in December.

Andy Triplow of Architectural Treasures, Kent said, "It's sad to see another business go under, but that does mean more stock for us! I bought a slate fireplace for the insert, estimated at£2,800, and paid £500."

Rupert Woods of Leominster Reclamation, Herefordshire, who had bought some fireplaces, stained glass and flooring said, "There's no real bargains to be had. It is good from the trade's point of view to see stock going for high prices. The auctioneers have done a good job, but things have been very slow, possibly because of the online bidders. Yesterday I nearly lost the will to live, because it was so cold!"

Steve Tomlin, of MASCo, Glos, was effusive. "This is probably the best turn out I've seen at a trade auction for a long time. Prices have held above bottom estimate and many items have achieved prices well above top estimate. The trade support reflects the high esteem in which the name of Walcot Reclamation is held," he said.

Walcot Reclamation

 Tina Pasco garden antique connoisseur at Salvo Fair

TINA Pasco is a garden antiques dealer well known in the UK, France and USA for the past 16 years. Over the next few months she will be searching out the best garden antiques for her first stand at Salvo Fair.

Tina spent her childhood days in the overgrown gardens of derelict houses with dried up fountains and crumbling statues, whilst playing truant with her brothers. Her passion for garden statuary and ornament stemmed from these encounters. Years later she bought a run-down house with half an acre of garden and began trying to create a romantic garden with statues, urns, fountains and follies. "I kept on buying more and more, and in the end there was too much! Less is always more in a garden," says Tina. "So I decided to have a garden sale and began advertising. It attracted loads of people and I sold everything I wanted to sell. I began trailing around the big antique fairs in England and France buying and selling garden antiques. I used to go to Swinderby and sleep in the lorry for 3 days. At Newark I could find amazing things. Living in the lorry and doing the fairs was quite a hard life. I longed for a shop, and in 2000 found my present property which is a Georgian house, with a coach house and garden from which I run my business, Esprit Du Jardin'.

The only 'new' item Tina will bring to Salvo Fair is a Victorian-style mobile cloche, handmade by Kentish furniture maker and friend, David Le Versha. Tina says 'I met David at English antique fairs 15 years ago. He would bring along a trailer load of beautiful handmade benches, mobile cloches and greenhouses, and gazebos. If you didn't catch him within the first 20 minutes he would be sold out. We got on very well, and have teamed up to do Chelsea Flower Show in the past. David's bread and butter now is creating the mobile greenhouses for me, which means he can concentrate on beautiful one-offs like rose tunnels, gazebos, bridges or fern houses. It was David's daisy chairs that caused a stir at Chelsea on Diarmuid Gavin's stand. David will be coming along to Salvo Fair.'

The mobile cloche was designed by David Le Versha in 1995. It is made entirely in-house with exception of from the cast iron wheels that are made at a local foundry. The boards and seed trays are made from reclaimed or sustainably sourced timber. The idea is that the cloche can be moved around like a barrow. The boards inside can be lifted so plants or seeds in the ground can be covered by the structure. It can be painted any colour, but white and green are most popular.

MSF helps out in Haiti

THANKS to everyone for helping Salvo to collect money for MSF, as we have now raised more than £4,000 over the past seven years, both on SalvoWEB and at Salvo Fair.

Because of the poor medical conditions in Haiti, MSF already had 800 medical staff working there when the earthquake struck. 

The podcast (link below) starts with MSF's hospital collapsing and a lucky escape from an expat MSF man (six MSF workers were killed). He says, "Immediately after the shaking stopped there was a deathly silence. Then about three seconds after that the entire city erupted in screams."

MSF continue to work in Haiti and many other countries in need of medical help.

MSF podcast about Haiti, be warned it is a bit harrowing so dont listen unless you really want to.

If you would like to donate please visit Just Giving.

Reuse of the Week:

reusing everyday objects.

THE Resign Atelier from Faenza Italy, aims to create functional objects from discarded materials. The projects undertaken by the founders, Andrea Magnani & Giovanni Delvecchio, explore reuse from a symbolic and referential perspective to create increased value for unloved objects. The duo intend to educate/consult people and companies offering inspired designs for reuse.

"REsign is “RE-use of signs”, a creative re-combination of signs embedded in wasted objects, which have been rejected by the main stream production process, aiming to create, thanks to the reuse, a new meaning, characterized by a high identity and interpersonal value," said Andrea Magnani.

REsign

SALVO FAIR 2010, 25th - 27th June, BOOK NOW!

Next Auction
27 February 2010 Rural & Domestic Bygones

4 - 6 March 2010
Bath Decorative Antiques Fair
The Pavillion North Parade Rd, Bath, BA2 4EU, Tel: 07710 107 464 (or) 01225 333130. 45 exhibitors from across the UK, the best concentration of decorative antiques from the naive to the sophisticated and glamourous 20th century design outside London.

25 - 27 June 2010
Salvo Fair
Knebworth, Herts

10 March 2010
Christie's: Architectural Heritage
Christie's South Kensington, 85 Old Brompton Road, London. Architectural Heritage: The Adrian and Suzy Puddy Collection VIEWING TIMES South Kensington Mar 6 at 10am - 4pm Mar 7 at 10am - 4pm Mar 8 at 9am - 7:30pm Mar 9 at 9am - 5pm



FAIRS & AUCTIONS: Please send details as early as possible, and by Thursday of the week prior at the latest