Last year, I did a post about the inscription in a Royal Hampshires Journal of 1915, and here I give an update taken from another blog that I have started regarding my new venture trying to sell items in antique markets.
The original post can be found at: http://trenchartswordsintoploughshares.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/one-from-collection-in-memoriam-pt.html)
My other blog can be found at: http://vintageandantiquesmarket.blogspot.co.uk/
The relevant section is toward the end of this posting, however, I thought that I would include the whole written piece to put it into context.
Let Down by George IV in Chiswick, but Promises Kept Thanks to Chelsea Pensioners at Covent Garden (After An Ambush by The Ninja Nanny)
Sunday was a wet and miserable day in Chiswick Antiques Fair in the George IV pub in Chiswick. So much so that the back courtyard was flooded during a particularly heavy thunder storm.
Poor 'Steve The Market' had hurt his back the night before, so it was left to his wife Suzie and Justin to organise us all (not an easy task first thing on a Sunday Morning)!
Being open from 11am, it was probably more like 12.30pm before the first tentative customer walked in. A brief walk around the room and back out to the bar again, hardly stopping to catch a breath, let alone a look at any of the stalls! You would imagine that we were all growling at them from behind our respective stockpiles!! lol
The manic antics of 'Steve The Market' were sadly missed to entertain us. The venue we use is usually a comedy venue, and I think Steve sees himself as an undiscovered comedic tallent. It usually works, bringing in customers and making them smile and relax while browsing.
Having just been given a huge stock of Victorian and Georgian candlesticks to sell, we thought that we were on to a winner on such a dark and dismal day, and the anouncement that Utility Bills are to increase (AGAIN!) before winter with a threat of blackouts in prospect. Surely we could move some of them on?
We did manage to get rid of two pairs mid afternoon, and a heavily discounted Afghan Rug much later. After paying the provider of said items and for our stall, a negative balance ended our day a little depressingly!
Monday morning at 4.30 is not my natural environment! However there was a little hope that we might recoup the losses of the previous day.
Things started well with the sale of 5 sets of 1920's/1930s doorhandles and a Palais Royale Picture Frame within the first few minutes to another trader!
As we continued to set up the stall, installing all of the electrical items that give us light and a presence at the various venues, there was suddenly an almighty explosion! While trying to manouver the Itlian Chandalier, it hit the Eddison Squirel Cage light bulb on one of the electrical insulator lamps, shattering it, and blowing the main fuse, showering glass all over!! Was this an omen for the day?
A little later, a little old lady of probably 80+ years young, shuffled toward us on her zimmer frame. I spent a pleasant few minutes explaining my Trench Art Collection, lulling me into a false, smug, sence of security. Within seconds I was charmingly ambushed by this Ninja Pensioner. Talk about velvet gloves and a cast iron fist!! "how much is your Verdun Letter Opener?" "£10 love." (What I had paid for it plus a £1 profit for my efforts of sourcing and bringing it back from the Paris Markets). Anyone else, I had been quoting £15 for the same item, but I felt sorry for the poor old soul on such a cold and miserable morning. "The tip is bent back. I'll give you £7 or nothing." The Viet Cong would have been proud of such a vicious and incisive ambush on a weak and feeble opponent! Crushed, I caved in to her demand and even wrapped it in bubble-wrap and put it into a bag for her!! I will be older and wiser the next time that I meet the Ninja Nanny!!!
As at other Markets over the last few weeks, all of the traders have been having a bad time. Trade is slow and the buyers not buying. It was another slow day, but, as ever it is really nice taking time chatting to other traders and the customers that are interested in particular items. My mother was fond of the addage that 'the Devil makes work for idle hands, so plenty of time was utilised polishing candlesticks and Trench Art! lol
The large slab of Jade was of particular interest to customers this week. We have had it at about three or four sales and hardly got a notice. Yesterday though, it seemed that almost everyone wanted to know about it.
All that I know is that it was collected in Hong Kong in the 1950's. The form reminds me of a fishing weight or anchor, however, we have been given a few alternatives. One gentleman suggested that it was a funerary offering, and yet another, a head rest. Someone has also suggested that it might be from New Zeland rather than Chineese because of the colour, but I have absolutely no idea. If any of the readers of this blog have any further suggestions, please feel free to comment as it is a facinating piece, and beautifully tactile.
You might imagine though, there was no sale of the slab of Jade to give us 'a little tickle,' (as my friend Dee says when she makes a really nice profit).
The last time that we were in France, we picked up a bundle of French Metis Linen. This has given us 'a nice little tickle' over the last few months, and the best sale of the day was our penultimate linen sheet. It went a long way toward paying for the stall, and coupled with a few more small sales, left us with a tiny profit after paying for the parking too.
During the late afternoon, feeling like I was watching paint dry, a rather colourful pair of gentlemen approached the stall. Clad in the scarlet black and gold of the Royal Hopital Chelsea, (http://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/) they browsed the stock, taking particular note of a book that I have used for display purposes only. (There is a long story about how I aquired this document, and why took the subsequent actions that I am about to explain. If you are interested in the document and back story, you can read it on my other blog at: http://trenchartswordsintoploughshares.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/one-from-collection-in-memoriam-pt.html)
The book itself is the Hampshire Regimental Journal of 1915 with a memorial inscription on the internal flyleaf.
"I really like that, but I'm afraid to ask how much as I'm sure I can't afford it. It would be nice to have it at chapel on Sunday when we meet 'The Hampshires'."
"Excuse me gentlemen, I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. Are you meeting with the Royal Hampshires on Sunday?" The response was in the affirmative. "I was wondering if you might do me a favour?" "If we can, young man." "I need to get 'The Journal' to 'The Hampshires' for their Regimental Museum or Archive, and I was wondering if you might pass it on for me?"
Well, I thought that they were going to fall through the floor! lol These were the most charming men that you could have met, full of fun and the joy of life. Teasing eachother while they chatted with me, I spent the most pleasant few minutes with them, and with a parting handshake, they invited me to their service on Sunday at the Royal Hospital on Sunday at 11am with Parade at 10.40am in the courtyard.
Having agreed to try to make it, I now realise that I am double booked, so will not be able to attend, so I make a public apology here for my non attendance to Hussar Bill (Paddy) Fox BEM, (Chelsea Pensioner Chief Tour Guide) and to his camrade Sapper John Denton of the Royal Engineers. I salute you gentlemen for your service to the country, for helping me to keep my promise to return the Journal to the Hampshires, and for making my day.
Sometimes it is not about the financial reward of work, but the human contacts that enrich your life.
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