In a city that is so defined by its history, antiques have always had a major presence in Bath’s shops and auction houses. Here we meet Aldridges of Bath, the Auctioneers established in 1976 by John Street, after a period of 25 years with Jolly’s Auction Rooms as managing director.
The mid-1970s was a very buoyant period in the world of antiques, with a healthy home market and a booming export market, particularly to the USA, so it was a particularly good time to start this new venture, Aldridges of Bath. Two years later, John’s youngest son Ivan joined the firm as a 17-year-old and began the long and rewarding process of learning the business. “I feel extremely lucky to have entered the business when it was at its peak. We were regularly dealing with large properties and estates, with all manner of rare and interesting items coming through the doors, so gaining knowledge was relatively easy, and a great deal of fun”, says Ivan.
In 1996, on his father’s retirement, Ivan took over the running of the business, but by this time the market was gradually starting to change for a variety of reasons and today it is very different. In the 1970s and ’80s, places like Bath, Bradford-on-Avon and Warminster were teaming with antiques shops, centres and markets, but now there are far fewer. Buyers’ tastes have changed, particularly with regard to furniture, and today good Georgian pieces have become much more affordable and are extremely good value for money compared to 30 years ago. The same can be said of all manner of the traditional areas of furnishing and collecting, with a shift to, and a growth in, more contemporary tastes and styles. One important thing that hasn’t changed, for both traditional antiques as well as more contemporary items, is that anything of outstanding quality or rarity can still command high prices at auction, despite changes in buying trends.
Over the past 20 years Alridges have seen a rise in demand for certain types of Chinese ceramics and works-of-art, greatly facilitated by the presence of the internet. On that note, the internet has brought about probably the most radical change. Auction firms large and small can now present their entire sale catalogue to buyers all over the world, in a way that hitherto was not possible. In fact, because the on-line bidding platforms available today are so efficient and convenient, the majority of UK buyers also place their bids in this way, even people who are within easy reach of their local saleroom.
Despite some seismic changes, Aldridges are still going strong after nearly 50 years and Ivan says he feels privileged to have been involved in such a fascinating and absorbing business, and to have had the opportunity to handle a good many rare and valuable items. Notable examples include a pair of marble sculptures of Putti (winged, chubby male children) representing Day and Night, dated 1715 which were sold in the early 1980s for £26,000 (approximately £80,000 today); a stunning pair of Art Deco emerald earrings which sold for £50,000; a Chippendale period library for £36,000; and a very rare Chinese porcelain bowl made in the early 18th century, sold for £260,000.
Ivan says, “The beauty of this job is that you never know what might turn up next. During routine valuations, in the course of the same week, I was asked to value not only a rare historic autographed letter by Oliver Cromwell written during the Civil War, but also a live tortoise!”
Aldridges of Bath Ltd, Phoenix House, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 9ES; Tel: 01225 462 830; aldridgesofbath.com
To read more about Bath’s best auctioneers and antiques specialists, visit thebathmagazine.co.uk