Latest news with #CharlesHanson
Epoch Times
6 days ago
- General
- Epoch Times
A Bunch of Fabergé Cut Flowers
When auctioneer and antiques expert Charles Hanson set off for work in the summer of 2018, little did he know that he'd stumble upon the find of a lifetime. It was in his Hampton Court office in South West London that a well-heeled lady presented Hanson with a cardboard box containing two hardstone flower ornaments: a barberry twig and a convolvulus vine (morning glory). 'Inside, wrapped in an old tea towel, was the holy grail of what an auctioneer can expect only in their wildest of dreams—not one, but two, Fabergé flowers,' Hanson said in a press release. 'The enormity of such finds cannot be underestimated. Such works are the rarest of Fabergé's craftsmanship and are very special.'
Daily Mirror
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bargain Hunt star supported by fans as he makes huge announcement away from BBC show
Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson has announced his latest move away from the BBC show Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson has been supported by fans as he made a huge announcement away from the BBC show. The beloved auctioneer is set to host a new auction show, giving viewers an exclusive peek into his Derbyshire salesroom and unveiling some "jaw-dropping discoveries". Charles took to Instagram on Tuesday (July 22) to tease fans with a promotional snapshot of his upcoming series, Secret Life of the Auction House, which will premiere on Quest on Thursday, July 31. His announcement post read: "Exciting news from Hansons Auctioneers! We're thrilled to announce our brand-new TV series, Secret Life of the Auction House! Step inside our Derbyshire saleroom as hundreds of thousands of extraordinary treasures pass through each year - from a 1966 World Cup flag to Queen Victoria's bloomers," reports the Express. "With exclusive, behind-the-scenes access, watch as Charles Hanson (@HansonsAuctions) and our 75-strong team research provenance, spot the fakes, and run the live auctions that send rare Harry Potter first editions, Victorian vampire slaying kits, and so much more out the door to eager collectors." The post also included details about the show's premiere: "Tune in Thursday 31st July at 9 PM on @QuestTV to catch the first episode!" Adding to the anticipation, the caption concluded: "Whether you're a seasoned collector or just love a good treasure hunt, this series is packed with insider tips, jawdropping discoveries, and all the auction excitement you could ask for." Charles received an outpouring of support from his fans in the comments section, with one writing: "I will look forward to this." Another added: "Sounds really interesting great to see behind the scenes," while a third expressed anticipation: "Fantastic. Looking forward to watching this." A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: "Great news! I will be delighted to tune in!" In a recent update, Charles couldn't hide his excitement as he anticipated the launch of his new show. He took to X (formerly Twitter), saying: "Hope everyone's well this Tuesday (not Wednesday) evening! New show out soon! 31st July at 10pm (not 9pm) on #Quest #SecretLifeOfTheAuctionHouse." In a brief clip that was filmed in his car, Charles said: "I hope everyone is well. I'm really excited about a new show appearing on your TV screens. Making a show for Discovery Plus seen on Quest starting on the 31st July. "It's the Secret Life of the Auction House. It stars me and my brilliant team at Hansons Auctioneers as we cover all the country and we make some quite riveting, revealing, emotive, cliffhanging, nail-biting, times." He concluded: "We sell with theatre, drama and romance and we make a memory. So do tune in." Known for his appearances on Antiques Road Trip and Bargain Hunt, Charles is a familiar face to many. Bargain Hunt is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Se cret Life of the Auction House premieres on July 31 at 10pm on Quest
Daily Telegraph
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Hidden treasure: Hoarder's home yields antiques worth $100,000
An amazing treasure trove of antiques valued at approximately $100,000 has been unearthed from beneath a mountain of clutter in a hoarder's home. The remarkable find was made during a clearance of a Victorian townhouse in Wolverhampton, about 20km north of Birmingham, revealing a collection that has captivated the imagination of many. The terraced property, once owned by a retired antiques dealer, according to The Sun, was filled to the brim with items, obscuring the valuable artefacts within. Dubbed 'Aladdin's Cave' by the team tasked with clearing the house, the hidden gems emerged unexpectedly as the work progressed. The homeowner, who spent six decades amassing his collection, sought assistance after downsizing to a smaller residence with his elderly wife. MORE NEWS Worst celeb tenants exposed 'It's a choice': Buyer shock over bathroom feature Scottish island listed for fraction of Aus home His home was transformed into a 'collector's paradise,' featuring an impressive array of antiques, including eight grandfather clocks valued at $2,000 each, an 18th-century coffer, and a classic 1956 Morris Minor split screen, estimated to be worth up to $12,000. Hansons Auctioneers, responsible for the clearance, quickly recognised the man's discerning eye for quality items. As they sifted through hundreds of bags and boxes, they uncovered an array of valuable pieces. Charles Hanson, the owner of Hansons Auctioneers, described the find as 'unbelievable,' noting the house was packed with hundreds of items, many of which were of significant value. Among the treasures was a magnificent 18th-century coffer, potentially worth between $300 and $500, and a Welsh stick chair valued at $1,200 to $1,600. Hanson remarked on the tendency for collectors to become hoarders over time, a sentiment echoed by many in the antiques community. MORE NEWS: Aus's worst neighbours exposed The garage held another surprise: an original 1956 Morris Minor 'Split Screen,' valued at $10,000 to $12,000, hailed as a 'great classic car discovery.' The loft space revealed vintage bicycles, while a collection of teddies, some adorned with silver pocket watches, added a whimsical touch to the find. Among the scores of treasures, a circa 1790 Staffordshire creamware mug, valued at up to $400, was discovered hidden among less valuable pottery. Hanson reflected on the homeowner's lifelong passion for antiques, noting that such a fascination often leads to an inability to stop collecting.
The Guardian
17-06-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Wartime codebreaker Alan Turing's scientific papers sell for £465,000 at auction
A cache of Alan Turing's most important scientific papers have been sold for £465,000 at auction, more than three times their expected sale price, after being saved from the shredder. It had been estimated that the collection would sell for £150,000 in 13 separate lots but it fetched a total of £465,400 on Tuesday, which is understood to be a record for Turing material. The treasure trove of some of the wartime codebreaker's most important work was discovered gathering dust in a loft at a property in Bermondsey, south London. The archive was gifted to Turing's best friend but it was almost destroyed after being found during a house clearance last November. The papers were saved at the last minute when their significance was recognised at a family event and they went under the hammer in Etwall, Derbyshire. It included a personally signed copy of his 1938 PhD dissertation, Systems of Logic Based on Ordinals, which sold for £110,500. Also featured was his paper On Computable Numbers, also known as Turing's proof, which introduced the world to the idea of a universal computing machine in 1936. Described as the first programming manual of the computer age, it sold for £208,000, according to auctioneers Hansons. The company's founder, auctioneer Charles Hanson, said some of the items were among the 'most important lots I've sold in my time', adding: 'It was a sale like no other, with lots like no other, a very memorable and special occasion which I was honoured to be a part of. 'They are iconic memories of an iconic man.' The papers, known as offprints, had originally been given by Turing's mother, Ethel, to her son's friend and fellow mathematician Norman Routledge. They were produced in small numbers and distributed within academia, and rarely appear on the market. Routledge kept the collection of the codebreaker's offprints, which were eventually rescued by his nieces and nephews. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Jim Spencer, the director of Rare Book Auctions, said: 'Nothing could've prepared me for what I was about to find in that carrier bag. These seemingly plain papers – perfectly preserved in the muted colours of their unadorned, academic wrappers – represent the foundations of computer science and modern digital computing. 'Literature has always been my forte, not mathematics, so the past few months of intensively researching and cataloguing these papers has left me feeling that Alan Turing was superhuman.' Turing was one of the codebreakers at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes who played a vital role in cracking the German Enigma code, which was crucial to the allied victory in the second world war.
Daily Mirror
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bargain Hunt fans 'furious' as team make show history with 'unfair' twist
A team on the BBC show Bargain Hunt made history when they were allowed to have a third item valued at auction after failing to meet the challenge - and viewers were not happy. Bargain Hunt enthusiasts were left in shock as a resurfaced episode made an unexpected entry into the show's history books for a rather unfortunate reason. The instalment, which first hit screens in 2022 with Eric Knowles at the helm, featured experts Charles Hanson and Caroline Hawley guiding participants through the quaint village of Eccleston, Lancashire. However, the events that transpired were unprecedented in the programme's 25 year history. Contestants Geraldine and Washington, representing the red team, experienced an unparalleled blunder by becoming the first duo to bring fewer than three items to auction – arriving with just a pair. The team explained their predicament, saying: "Because there are so many things here - but it's just finding that item that meets the criteria." They faced the challenge of finding at least one item valued over £75, but as time ran out, they could only muster a rare Doulton jug and two vintage tennis racquets, neither meeting the price requirement. A visibly surprised Eric Knowles delivered the news on air, remarking: "I've got to say, you have made Bargain Hunt history by virtue of you only managing to buy two items." Charles Hanson shared his astonishment, commenting: "I like to play to the wire but it went badly, badly wrong. We failed on the challenge. We failed with our big spend. I'm sorry, team. It really happened." To compound their woes, Eric noted the penalty for their shortfall, adding: "The ruling is that because you didn't do the £75 spend, you start with minus £75." Bargain Hunt enthusiasts were split after witnessing a team snatch victory with the help of a bonus buy, despite breaking show guidelines, reports the Express. The red team's fortunes dramatically turned when they chanced upon an Art Deco clock priced at £200 and subsequently sold it for an impressive £380, netting them a tidy sum and no small amount of joyous relief. Yet, audience members took to social media with a mix of outrage and amusement over the perceived rule breach. One displeased fan vented on X: "They shouldn't have been allowed a bonus if they hadn't bought three items!" Another was firm in their stance: "Shouldn't have been allowed to compete with only a £75 forfeit. Should've been disqualified in my opinion!" In contrast, a third person embraced the chaos: "Brilliant! This has got to be the best episode ever! What larks!" It's noteworthy that Bargain Hunt is not unfamiliar with controversy; back in 2018, a celebrity special had to be re-filmed after musician Bez's partner made prohibited bids.
