The Sharpham Auction

In the year of 1941 when the German Army was sweeping through the Maginot line.

France and most of the western allied countries were preparing to surrender to the power of the then mighty Furher and all trade ground to a standstill. Very few people were interested in purchasing any works of art whatsoever. However my Father, although heavily in overdraft with his bank to the tune of £300 was determined to ignore the peril and danger. He continued to go about the business of purchasing any goods he considered suitable for his Paignton antique shop.

He had a great flair for choosing and finding great works of art and although he had his eccentricities, he had many enthusiastic clients including the late Princess Royal and Robert Graves of 'I Claudius' fame.

At that time I was just 20 years old and I thought that I knew everything. Of course we spent a lot of time arguing. Although we did not see eye to eye every time, my Father’s long experience proved valuable and I was not always right

When he told me that he was going to a big auction sale at Kingswear to buy some antiques from a stately home named Sharpham, I reminded him that he still had a substantial overdraft. I also mentioned that the political situation made business climate very uncertain. In his typical manner, he reminded me that I was a young 'snotty nose' and I should leave any financial details to the boss.

Ignoring my advice, my father disappeared for three days.

Upon his return he was most invasive when I questioned him about the auction sale, how much he had spent and what items he had purchased. Eventually he told me that the auction sale was at a large stately home. It was a house full of the finest antiques with no reserve prices on any of the goods. To give me an estimate of the size of the property, he said the house itself had 365 windows.

The reason why there was to be no reserve price on the property and the contents of the house was because all the family had died and all monies received would go to straight the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

He then went on to explain that owing to the military situation and the big recession, only seven dealers turned up at the auction. Despite the lack of interest, the auction proceeded regardless. The number 1 Lot was the property itself, which overlooked the River Dart, along with the freehold for four hundred acres of prime land. It was knocked down for £4,600!

The auctioneer then proceeded to sell off all the superb collection of antiques - hoards of silver, 18^th century furniture, porcelain, bronze, object d’art mostly at ridiculously low prices. He then went on to tell me that he had spent at least £350 , which completely horrified me. He told me not to worry as he would see the bank manager, and soften him with a couple of bottles of whisky. Evidently that was the usual method of doing business with the bank in some areas of Devon. He told me to contact Pickfords, the furniture removers, to order a large lorry and to make room in the store for the goods when they arrive.

When the lorry arrived it was packed up to the hilt with fine antiques. The driver of the lorry informed me that there was at least two more full loads to be collected!

The first items to be unloaded from the lorry was a set of eight ‘Rouge Marble’ Putti; exquisite quality cupids each one playing a musical instrument - drums, trumpet, violin, castanets, and other musical instruments. Finally the conductor was unpacked. in all my experience as an antique dealer of over sixty years, I have never seen anything to surpass the loveliness and quality of those early 19^th century statues. Each one was signed by a well known Italian sculptor, and today I do not think £200,000 could buy them.

As they came off the lorry a lady passing by admired them and asked me if they were for sale. Although I was reluctant to sell them, I quickly added up the debt we owed to the bank and I offered them to her for £350, which she hurriedly agreed on the condition that I could deliver them to her that morning.

I told my father later that all his debts could now be settled. He told me he was pleased at the deal as he had only paid 10 shillings each for them. Bearing in mind the true value of the goods, we both had a good deal.

I was further amazed at the quality and amount of the goods he had purchased, which included fine Meissen porcelain groups, figures, and 18^th and 19^th century paintings. I felt very humble about the original advice I had previously given him and have since been more careful before I offer my opinions.

I am sure that that sale kept my father’s finances buoyant during the war. I was due to join the Army in the near future and I was satisfied that I could enlist and not worry too much about the financial security of the family. The only fear I had was my father was a addicted gambler and there was always the risk he may be tempted to bet too far.

However I had no need to worry as the American Army, after a year or so, arrived in the area and his shop prospered accordingly.

As for the Sharpham Estate, it is now a centre for Buddhist Studies.