Fun Antiques quiz evening

On Wednesday 18^th February we enjoyed a Fun Antiques Quiz evening organised by the Fundraising team led by Sheila Weatherburn.  This was our annual fundraiser gifted by the Novotel who provided a fantastic buffet supper.

After the supper we started with an introduction from Angus Ashworth The Yorkshire Auctioneer.  Angus told us about his very interesting life and how he came to set up Ryedale Auctioneers in Kirkbymoorside and how more recently he has also has a very interesting television career which he clearly enjoys.  Angus answered questions about the management of auctions on line and in person. Angus clearly has a great interest in his work.

After his introduction Angus introduced us to ten small auction lots that he had brought with him.  The auction lots raised in date from 1770 to 2000 and had estimated auction values of between £15 and £1,400.  The ten tables had to examine each lot and decide what it was, its date and its value.  For the lots there were a great range of answers, particularly in respect of the descriptions.  The ten lots and answers are as follows:

1.      Silver wine filter/funnel dated at 1789 with a value of £350 to £450.  This item could be accurately dated because it was hallmarked.

2.      Penny black stamp, 1841 with a value of £30 to £40.  Angus noted that Penny Blacks can vary greatly in value.  The corner had been snipped off this particular stamp.

3.      Sunday stick, 1880 to 1900 with a value of £60 to £80.  These were called Sunday sticks, but were not walking sticks, they could be used either as a small golf club or billiard cue.  It was not a swagger stick as some of us thought.

4.      Flintlock four barrel pistol, 1770 to 1800, value £1200 to £1400, the most valuable of the items.

5.      Sommeliers cup for wine tasting, this was the most modern item dated at around 2000, with a value of £20 to £30.

6.      Napoleonic prisoner of war carved item, either an apple corer or bone marrow scoop, 1790 to 1815, value £50 to £80.

7.      Powder horn, 1780 to 1810, value £80 - £120.

8.      Mouseman cheese or bread board, 1940 to 1950, value £300 to £400.  The ranges of value suggested for this item varied significantly.

9.      Pewter Tudric, Archibald Knox and manufactured for Libertys, 1900 to 1905, value £60 to £100.  This jug had an interesting face image on it.

10. Brass hub cap for builders cart, 1870 to 1900, value £15 to £25.

There was a lovely enthusiastic atmosphere during the quiz.  After marking out of a maximum mark of 30 the winning team scored 18, the lowest marks were three teams scoring 7, there was a tie breaker to select the losing team that won the booby prize!

The evening raised in excess of £2,800 for our charity fund which was a fantastic result thanks to the Novotel gifting the supper and also to Steve Burton who arranged a large donation from the Barclays Community Fund.  We were also very grateful to Angus Ashworth for giving his time and facilitating a fantastic evening of fun.

Finally if anyone would like to see Angus Ashworth on television he is in a new  8 part TV series Yorkshire Heritage Hero on the Discovery Channel.

David Fotheringham, Fundraising team