Antiques and auctions: Bigger is better for all concerned

Sold at Sheffield Auction Gallery for £180,000 in March 14 under the Proceeds of Crime Act as a result of a joint operation between H.M. Revenue & Customs and South Yorkshire Police.

This year Christmas at the “Dowse House” was much the same as other years.

They came, they saw, they ate and then they left behind the mess.

The only difference over other years being that there are more spouses as well as more grandchildren so the “ate” and the “mess” bits are bigger than ever.

But, as I later explained to my wife from the armchair as she busily tidied up, that just makes it all so much more fun!

Fifteen on Christmas Day, six staying over, and fifteen on Boxing Day, with five staying over – what more could a man want?

So Christmas was great. What about the rest of the year?

Well, in June, my wife retired (probably to prepare for Christmas) and at the same time we (that is A E Dowse and Son) joined forces with Sheffield Auction Gallery.

And we became one enormous exciting Sheffield company.

Having been together for seven months now, it is the best thing either of us ever did.

So 2014 was great. What about 2015?

Well, my wife is retired so I anticipate less vacuuming, less dusting and more three course meals at the evening table!

Fortunately, with slightly less responsibility at home and more three course meals to eat, it is good news that my working life is busier than ever, enabling the calories to drop from me and allowing me to keep my racing snake figure.

Hard work and good food – what more could a man want?