A life in antiques - The first steps of discovery

When the call came from Surrey Life, I was ankle deep in mud looking at an old beauty of a Chesterfield sofa, with a large collection of storage boxes and trunks stacked up on top of it that hid no end of undiscovered treasures, in an old barn on the outskirts of Surrey. Always filled with excitement by what I might find at a house clearance, it was with equal exuberance that I agreed to embark on this new venture with Surrey Life, contributing a regular monthly feature on the county’s thriving antiques scene.

It was only when I was out of the barn in the harsh light of day, I began to realise what I had got myself into. I have to admit that even for me this is new territory, and although very used to searching out old treasures at the crack of dawn with my torch, this particular antiquity (me) is not used to being in the spotlight!

Let me explain; the idea is that each month I will share with you some of the finds I have discovered and offer advice for care and restoration, as well as letting you know about key diary dates for antique lovers in the Surrey area.
As this is our first introduction, I thought it would be good this month to let you know a little about me and offer some initial more general advice to you about what to look for when visiting antique fairs and auctions.

I decided five years ago to break free from my established career as a fire fighter (which although fantastically rewarding did not quite match my dream of owning and running a large antiques business). Having dabbled in antiques for as long as I can remember, the opportunity arose to purchase The Packhouse in Farnham. I jumped at the chance and along with my business partner, Tony Sandells, we set about transforming the business away from a traditional antiques centre into a more relevant lifestyle experience, offering customers not only antiques but also interiors and inspirational advice from our in-house interior design, flooring, fireplace and kitchen experts.
What had always been my hobby was now also my full-time career and, although challenging at times, was the best and most rewarding decision I ever made. It has been a process of continuous learning and this I believe is the key to surviving and evolving within the antiques arena.
Here are a few buying tips for the enthusiastic amateur who is just starting out.

At auctions, it is important to ensure you stay focused…

• Always view the catalogue ahead of the auction. 
• Mark up the items you are interested in. 
• Inspect every inch of the item before the auction starts.
• Set yourself a realistic limit but don’t be afraid to increase this slightly if it means securing a lot for just a small amount more. 
• Find out what commission and fees are on top of the ‘hammer price’. There is normally something extra to pay. 
• Consider how you are going to get the item home! Not all auction houses have a delivery service.

Visiting fairs can be a fantastic way to view a vast array of periods and styles all in one location…

• Remain focused on what it is you set out to look for – the eclectic mix up of items all in one area can be confusing and distracting.
• Always go armed with a tape measure and a floor plan of where the item is to go at home.
• A digital camera may be useful if you are buying for someone else or considering a certain look.

It has been fun writing my first column, and from one antique lover to another, I feel that this could be the start of something exciting. Until next month, watch out for the ‘trick or treaters’ and have fun discovering the hidden treasures in Surrey.

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Alison Hougham lives in a renovated Victorian ground floor apartment near Farnham. When not at home or at The Packhouse, which is also in Farnham, you will often see her over the Surrey Hills piloting her hot air balloon.

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