J'AIME SEPTEMBER 2020

THIS ROYAL DOULTON ‘BOY ON A
CROCODILE’ WENT ON TO SELL AT
AUCTION FOR £7,000
“All items pass through The Lichfield Auction
Centre where our regular sales feature anything from
household ornaments and cars to jewellery, fine art,
coins, toys, medals and vintage whisky.
“Anything which cannot be sold – for example
items which do not meet current fire or electrical
regulations – are properly disposed of and we will
leave the property clean and ready either for new
occupants or to go on the market.”
The family firm has also recently become the
National Association of Jewellers’ newest approved
member for auction services and all members of the
jewellery department are certified gemmologists and
diamond graders.
“Whatever the items in question, we can handle
probate valuations and estate clearances in their
entirety,” Richard adds.
So why choose the auction process? Richard has
dozens of examples, including this quirky crocodilian
anecdote.
“At a local property we were clearing, the ceramics
and pots and pans were spread out and I spotted
something unusual in one corner,” he remembers.
“Our research team jumped into action and
confirmed this ceramic was in fact a very rare Royal
Doulton ‘Boy On A Crocodile’ and we went on
to sell it at auction for £7,000 – our clients were
overjoyed!”
He adds: “Unlike many auctioneers, we do not
cherry pick or farm out items of lesser value to other
firms, we handle the entire clearance.
“That’s crucial to what we do. We leave nothing to
chance so, if it’s there, we’ll find it.
“Now ‘it’ might not be – but our way of working
banishes any nagging doubt in the future; did we
throw something away that could have been huge?”
The firm’s large, meticulously-catalogued sales are
the key here.
“To us, everything is important,”
Richard explains.
“Instead of throwing away items
such as fridge freezers, we sell
them at auction. Every single thing
sold, be it for a tenner or tens of
thousands, is of benefit to our
clients.
“Be it lead statues in the
undergrowth of a garden or tools in
the garage, sheds, cellars and attics
are great hunting grounds for us!”
The 2020 pandemic has seen every
business evolve to incorporate
COVID-19 secure practises and
Richard Winterton Auctioneers is no exception.
The firm has moved all its auctions online and
big auctions are now scheduled from 10am every
Monday until Christmas bar two.
Other stringently observed coronavirus procedures
include protective equipment, social distancing
measures, deep cleaning and sanitiser to keep
staff and clients safe and premises and vehicles
disinfected.
“Our background is one of more than 150 years of
family experience,” says Richard.
“We have worked hard to evolve through the covid
crisis and I’m delighted our new way of working is
working so well.
A RARE FIND FROM A
HOUSE CLEARANCE
23