After over 40 years in the antiques business, I am sometimes amazed at what people have hidden away in attics, cellars, and garages.
An interesting story I have is from about five years ago. I received a phone call from a titled Lady living in Worcestershire. She had called me following a recommendation from a regular customer living in Harrogate, and the Lady in question lived in a small mansion with thirteen bedrooms. She told me she wanted to dispose of some of the contents and I was excited and intrigued to have a journey south to have a look.
I arrived at the appointed time to find the building completely overgrown with almost impenetrable brambles and bushes. After fighting my way to the rear servant’s door, I was met by the Lady of the house. To say she was eccentric would be a large understatement, she was of the upper class in the extreme and apologised that she had had to “let the butler go” and she would show me around the house herself.
We first went up a grand staircase to the top floor servant’s quarters. It was an unbelievable sight with more holes in the roof than slates and it soon became apparent that rainwater had penetrated every floor of the building. As we went down through the floors it was quite obvious that all the beautiful Georgian furniture was damaged beyond repair.
When we eventually arrived in the main ballroom, I could not believe my eyes. It was full of taxidermy animals including four stuffed lions including the biggest male lion I have ever seen. It must have been 10ft long mounted on a large wooden plinth.
There was a full-size brown bear, a polar bear and cub, four full head tiger skin rugs and every conceivable type of rare wild cats – half of the planet’s endangered species were in that room. Hanging on the walls were photos of this Lady and an entourage of servants with guns and dead big game animals all taken in the 1930s. I found it extremely sad, but she thought it quite normal to go out and kill animals – of course she was of a different time when hunting was far more socially acceptable.
She had obviously mixed in high circles as there were photos of the Aga Khan and military uniformed officers with lots of horses and pack mules. It would appear that when they went on safari, every home comfort was also taken. She told me of society occasions held in the ballroom which was now covered in wet mouldy carpets. I could not have purchased any of the big game as every single one of them had been infested by who knows what – maggots and insects with half the fur missing. She did tell me that she had had to let the family silver and bronzes go previously.
The whole experience was one I would not have missed but completely unproductive – there was not a single item that wasn’t too damaged to purchase. I am certain that in its heyday, the house was full of treasures which would be worth a fortune today, had they survived the disrepair of the building.
The lady was quite elderly and completely of another era. She told me of her exciting life and how difficult it was getting the ‘right’ servants these days. I often wonder if she is still in that great big house living out her life with memories of a privileged lifestyle which will probably never return.
Back to reality and the present, the shop is doing well but I am finding it more and more difficult finding new stock, so if you are having a good clear out and you find anything interesting, please give me a call. I don’t mind calling on you even for single items and there is absolutely no obligation for you to sell anything.
Thank you,
David.
