Going once, going twice

Describe ‘a typical day’ at Bishop & Miller have had for a number of years now and I am hoping to ignite the same interest in my children.

Bishop & Miller is a specialist auction and valuation firm with salerooms and auction galleries in Stowmarket, Suffolk and Glandford, Norfolk. Founder, Oliver Miller, shares some of the gems of being a valuer and an auctioneer with us.

How did you come to be an auctioneer?

My interest in antiques and antiquities was sparked at a young age thanks to my grandmother, who often took me to the British Museum where we spent a lot of time looking at all the early Egyptian antiquities. My father worked as a Fine Art & Antiques photographer in London and I was always around antique objects from a very early age, so it’s not surprising really that I am where I am today.

There really is no typical day with us, every day is different. We are so fortunate that we see such a wide variety of objects, and clients come and see us for a whole host of reasons. It may be that having built up a specific collection, they feel it’s time to let it go to another home. Or, we have clients who have inherited individual items and on occasion, the entire contents of a loved one’s house, and so they need to ask our team what is worth selling at auction. However random an object might be, we have a great team of experts who love nothing more than helping to determine the best course of action.

What has been the most unusual item to enter the saleroom?

We have seen some exceptional private collections in 2023 and as it happens, one of the most outstanding pieces I’ve ever seen came through the doors just recently: an amazing 15th century, Edward IV bronze measure. This will go under the hammer in the summer and although it’s only as high as a ruler, the auction estimate is £40,000 - £60,000!

It seems that even antiques can go in and out of fashion. Any tips on up-coming trends?

It is true that things come and go in the auction world. Some objects tend to stay current and stand the test of time and others come back with a vengeance. We are currently seeing an increased interest in Scandinavian Design and Furniture, and British makers such as Ercol and G-Plan, with a trend towards light-coloured furniture. In my opinion, if you buy either at the moment, you really can’t go wrong.

I am not at work. My family consists of a patient wife and two small children: Poppy who is three and Theodore who is one, so they take up a lot of my spare time. Not only do I have an extensive knowledge of a wide range of antiques, I also have to keep up to date on the world of Pepper Pig and Peter Rabbit! My big passion, however, is travelling. In the past, I have been fortunate to see some of the wonders of the world, but now I am looking forward to travelling with the family, with Oman and South Africa firmly on the hit list!

You value a whole range of objects, from Tribal & Ancient Art to Fine Furniture and paintings. What do you have a soft spot for?

Really naïve ancient pottery that the everyday man would have used as a utility item - I absolutely love the connection with the history to the piece. To think that such items are still around today and are loved and appreciated is great. I have a few in my own collection that I

You opened in Glandford, Norfolk last autumn. Do you have plans to expand further?

Our Glandford Auction Gallery has been a great success so far. We opened it in September 2022 on a lovely farm business park just three miles from Holt. We have started investigating business links to North America on the East Coast so all I will say for now is watch this space!

How do you spend time when not running the business?

My business is my passion. However, I do like to unwind when

Where to find us:

Suffolk Showroom

19 Charles Industrial Estate, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 5AH

Norfolk Showroom

12 Manor Farm, Glandford, Holt NR25 7JP bishopandmillerauctions.co.uk