TV antiques expert Paul Laidlaw BSc, best known for his appearances on BBC’s Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip, is holding a charity valuation day on Wednesday, February 26th (2.00pm – 4.00pm) at Oak Tree Animals’ Charity, Wetheral and invites locals to come along with any treasures they may have languishing in the jewellery box, or the back of a bureau drawer.
Paul has earned an enviable reputation both on and off screen for depth of expertise and strength of results in the world of antiques, and in 2013 he opened up his own bespoke saleroom in the heart of Carlisle.
“Today, all shoppers, even those at auction, expect high standards of ambience and offering. When your local garden centre has the feel of Waitrose’s food hall, the days when auction rooms could look like cattle markets full of boxes of bric-a-brac are long gone,” says Paul.
He is passionate about the tradition and heritage of his profession, combined with an emphasis on exploiting modern technologies on behalf of his clients; “Today more than ever it is a global market to be tapped into via the internet. We are a provincial auction house with a national reputation, selling to a worldwide audience.”
“This is the third time that Paul will be attending a valuation day in support of Oak Tree. It is always a very popular event as people are eager to see what their treasured heirloom or curiosity is worth. There is no need to book – just turn up,” says Mieke Tennant, Events Coordinator
Due to Paul’s reputation on-screen as an expert in the field of medals, arms, armour and militaria, such items are a regular feature of Laidlaw Auctioneers & Valuers valuation days. However the auction houses specialisms encompass the full spectrum of antiques, fine art and collectors items including jewellery, silver and gold, watches and clocks, vintage costume and textiles, toys, fishing tackle, scientific and musical instruments, ceramics, art glass and pictures, through to ethnographica and oriental art.
“I’m just as thrilled handling gorgeous jewellery as I am a bayonet” says Paul “and I bet you didn’t know that about me.”
He will be joined on the day by fellow auctioneer and antiques enthusiast Georgina Norman, who gained her masters degree at Christie’s New York.
Oak Tree is asking for £3 per valuation in order to raise much needed funds for local animals in need.
