BEHIND THE SCENES Siobhan Tyrrell
EXPERT
Right Clarence Sinclair Bull (1896-1979) photograph of Greta Garbo, 1931, which Siobhan sold for a big profit
SIOBHAN TYRRELL
Below left Destruction of the Amazon should encourage more young buyers
PROFILE We put Antiques Roadshow’s Siobhan Tyrrell, the new head of valuations at the Berkshire-based auctioneers Dawsons, in the spotlight
What was the first antique you acquired? My great grandfather was a soldier in WWI whose job it was to drive trains back and forth on the Western Front, essentially delivering fresh recruits and taking back the wounded and dying. When I was a little girl, he left me a pretty dinner and tea service dating from around 1900. I wish I had been a bit older as I would have loved to ask him about the war. The dinner service isn’t worth much but my family used it, as I do now.
When did you start in the business? My parents dragged me around antique shops when I was a kid, so I’ve always been surrounded by antiques. After doing a history degree I had no idea what I wanted to do. A friend spotted the auctioneering and valuation course held at Southampton at the time and, from 1992, I was immersed in everything art and antiques related.
The piece you would still like to find? There isn’t one particular thing. As a complete history nerd I’m fascinated by a great story and, if it’s related to women’s history or women’s medical or military history, so much the better. I love coming across anything Suffragette-related, or anything to do with social history.
Best buy, and biggest mistake? My best buy was a black and white studio photograph of the film star Greta Garbo by the portrait photographer Clarence Sinclair Bull (1896-1979) who worked for movie studios during the golden age of Hollywood. I sold it for 10 times what it cost. My biggest mistake has to be
not buying Banksy limited-edition prints when they were selling in the low thousands in the early 2000s and are now selling for 10 times as much.
What do you like and dislike most about today’s antiques business? I love the work I do. My day is always different and, even having been in the busines for more than 25 years, there isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t say to myself, “Well, I’ve learnt something new there.” On the minus side we need more younger buyers and we need to hammer home the green aspect of antiques. I went to the Amazon five years ago and our guide told us if you buy modern furniture made from exotic woods you’re almost certainly contributing to the deforestation of rain forests.
Do you attend fairs? If so, which? I’m loath to reveal this as it has been responsible for some fantastic bargains but it’s the Giant Flea Market at the Bath & West Showground.
What is your favourite reference book? There are quite a few but Harold Newman’s Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, 1987, is a classic reference as is Alan Hodgkinson’s Gem Testing Techniques, 2015, for any unusual gemstones I have to identify. Regarding my interest in military and nursing medals, the Medal Yearbook is an essential identification and price guide.
Your favourite non-antiques activity? I love travelling and really missed it during the pandemic, so during that time I took up jewellery making to tap into my long-forgotten and neglected creative side. It also gave me an insight into how the jewellery I’m asked to value is made and the methods used. Dawsons’ next sale is on November 4, for more details go to www.dawsonsauctioneers.com
‘ My biggest mistake has to be not buying Banksy limited-edition prints when they were selling in the low thousands in the early 2000s and are now selling for 10 times as much’ ANTIQUE COLLECTING 63
