Lentune Ladies Club ran their second annual antiques appraisal event today, with former Sotheby’s expert and BBC Antiques Road Show valuer Tim Anthonisz again leading proceedings.

In his opening remarks Tim observed that the antiques market was changing. Traditionally, antique values reflected age, rarity, condition and craftsmanship. These days antique values often  reflect the cost of the materials from which they were made. Precious metals for example have doubled in value in recent years, and antiques are often valued more for the value of the materials from which they were made than their antiquity. As a result, many antiques are being melted down and recycled.

Prize possessions brought-in by members for valuation this year included some rare old books, much exquisite jewellery, “snakes” made from beads by Turkish prisoners of war and a milk-jug cow. As last year, antique of the day was again an exquisite musical bird box

After a convivial lunch, members departed, many to increase their insurance.