ELSECAR
A master of
Walking around Elsecar Antiques Centre is like being in a cornucopia of curiosity; a magpie’s haven filled with treasures and trinkets of the past.
With over 110 dealers, the endless rows of cabinets and units are windows into eras gone- by, showcasing an array of weird and wonderful things that start conversations.
Gilded picture frames telling stories through intricate paintings. Timeless strings of pearls and costume jewellery now hanging from walls instead of from around ladies’ necks. Oriental rugs pouring over the bannister, highlighted by a row of Art Deco Tiffany style lamps. Solid old chests with worn leather straps or exotic objects from overseas travels. Collectible china tea sets and polished cutlery sets that look like they’ve never been used.
Things you don’t necessarily need but can’t help falling in love with.
Buying antiques is such a personal experience, not only because of your individual tastes, interests and preferences. The heirlooms on sale have often been cherished by families for generations and it can be fascinating to learn of an object’s past.
For the centre’s buyer and valuer, Carl Masters, it is that character and charm which only adds to the value. The items he buys for the
‘‘Many factors affect value, from rarity to materials and craftsmanship or even fashions.’’
antiques centre, based within Elsecar Heritage Centre, aren’t defined by period or art movement, rather the intrigue and interest they spark. And in his 20-year career as an antiques dealer, Carl has seen all manner of things go in and out of the door. While we were there, one lady bought a decorative pot head because she’d never seen anything as ugly or grotesque.
Carl’s own unit is towards the back of the large antiques centre, his valuation desk surrounded by endless boxes of glittering jewellery. During our visit, he points out some of the more unusual items he has in, such as a bona fide foetal skull he’d ethically acquired from a doctor’s surgery where it had been for the last 60 years. In the middle of a curio-laden table is a life-size bronze sculpture of two airborne pheasants. A tambour front filing cabinet from a Leeds- based solicitor towers over an old kitchen stool by the doorway. “We call this our ‘stunned seat’ for those who bring in some old bits of jewellery they think are worth a few quid but are told it’s actually more like thousands. They usually need to sit down with shock after that bombshell, but it’s the best part of the job,” Carl says. With an honest and trustworthy nature, Carl has built a solid reputation as an antiques expert. He’s generous with his advice and his margins are fair which is testimony to why people travel from across the country to see him. “I believe you have to be right with people to
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have a successful business. My commission is modest but this means we can keep the volume of stock up so there are always new things for people to look at, plus it keeps the seller happy so they return to us with other items.” As Carl says, it’s a privilege to be the centre’s buyer and valuer but he’s modest about his expertise. His wife Dianne tells us, pre-lockdown, people would queue outside the shop to see him. He has also been on TV three times as a local expert on Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip. At Elsecar, Carl offers three free valuation days every week for those interested to know an item’s worth. Many factors affect value, from rarity to materials and craftsmanship or even fashions. There are no formal qualifications or training to become an antiques dealer; instead, Carl’s knowledge has developed from an interest, hobby and family history.
His father worked for the family firm, Thomas Masters Ltd; a Barnsley removals company which dates back to 1899 and is still running today. As a child, Carl would join his dad in the van on house removal jobs, with many of the items ending up back at their big old Victorian terraced house. Turning a hobby into a business, Carl opened a shop in Cawthorne 20 years ago before moving to Elsecar in 2005 to the already-established antiques centre. He still does house clearances and home visits. Habits have changed and younger people who may inherit these heirlooms don’t often keep them in the family. But while online selling sites may serve a purpose, having the advice of a knowledgeable and experienced antiques dealer will never go out of style.
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