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Copyright
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Pussycat Story
Hear Geoffrey tell this story. Please turn up the sound on your PC Click the picture to listen
I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this story, but if it is true, I would be more than amusing… The antique trade has many knowledgeable followers and collectors. Although not all have business premises, many make a living going to all the country village antique shops, hoping to find something of value in the shop on the off-chance the owner is unaware of its true value. They would buy the find as cheap as they could and sell it on to experienced dealers or put it into the main auction houses. On commencing my career as an Antique Dealer, I was told by an experienced Dealer, that every large antiques shop has at least one bargain and if you had the patience to go through all the stock on display, you could be lucky make a profit. Of course you had to have a fair amount of antiques knowledge, as especially now as there are so many reproductions, and good 'fakes' being offered, it is more likely to be a great loss that you will receive. Most dealers, warn clients if the article that they are considering to purchase is questionable, and of course if you purchase any article sold as old (not necessarily antique) you are in law able to demand your money back. I have found that generally speaking, that most dealers are proud of their reputations, and if you are unfortunate enough to deal with the wrong type do not be shy to speak out. Anyway, the story goes like this: A 'smart Alec' dealer, trolling around the countryside, came across an antique Shop tucked away in a small village, which was full of absolutely worthless junk. The owner was an elderly man who sat on a dilapidated old chair, reading the results of the last days horseracing. Suddenly the 'smart Alec' antique dealer noticed that in the window was a large grey Pussy Cat drinking milk from a bowl. He had a good look and realised that the Chinese bowl was really a fine early Ming specimen worth at least £5,000. He could not believe his luck. Now, the most important move was not to make the old man aware of his keen interest. But first he thought he would test the owner knowledge and whether he was aware of the true value of the bowl. So he asked the owner of the shop, "if he had anything of quality in the shop that was for sale". The old man said "No, not really. It is just bric-a-brac in here". So the roving dealer said that nothing in the shop interested him, but as he was leaving, said, "it was his wife's birthday today and she loved cats." He said "would he sell him the cat so he could give it to his wife as a birthday present." The old man was a bit indignant, and told him that he had an antique shop, not a pet shop. So the dealer said he would give the owner £200 for the cat. The old man agreed providing it was for cash. So he paid for the cat and put it under his arm, and made to leave the shop. As he got to the door, he paused by the window and picked up the bowl. He said to the old man "if you do not mind I will feed him on the way home". The owner of the shop retorted, "put that bowl down. I have sold six cats that way."!
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