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Antiques Roadshow guest floored by value of father’s gift

<p dir="ltr">For most people, finding out that their old items are worth a few hundred dollars is a treat enough, and maybe a few thousand if the antique is particularly special. </p> <p dir="ltr">But for one woman in the United Kingdom and her treasured brooches, that would have been small change. </p> <p dir="ltr">It was <em>Antiques Roadshow</em>’s expert Geoffrey Munn who broke the news after inspecting her pieces in Wales, assigning an impressive value to the 18th century collection. </p> <p dir="ltr">As the guest - and owner - explained, the two diamond brooches from her set had been gifted to her by her father. </p> <p dir="ltr">“[The smaller bow] on my wedding day. [The floral brooch] came a little bit later,” she said, “and [the ruby bow] was inherited from my grandmother.” </p> <p dir="ltr">She went on to share that her father had actually been involved in the antiques world, and so it was “something that I’ve grown up with.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/05/AntiquesRoadshow_EMBED.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr">Upon inspecting the items, Munn noted that they were in “perfect condition”, and that they seemed to be “18th century jewels of the finest pitch”. </p> <p dir="ltr">When it came to the smaller bow, he remarked that it was more than it appeared, being “a true lovers knot, because the harder it is pulled, the tighter it becomes. </p> <p dir="ltr">“And the diamonds are forever, so this little subliminal message for your wedding was perfectly well chosen.” </p> <p dir="ltr">According to Munn, the same could be said of the ruby bow, but that things were “more complicated” when it came to the floral brooch. </p> <p dir="ltr">After sharing that it was most likely a sort of dress ornament, he noted that “there may have been 20 or 30 of them, and they might have gone down the back of a woman of very high rank and huge wealth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“[In the 18th century], people didn’t simply recognise the sovereign because there was no photography and precious few portraits. So, when [they] entered the room, there had to be an enormous display of sumptuary.” </p> <p dir="ltr">He then theorised that the floral brooch could possibly have belonged to Russian royalty, and that he wanted to believe that was the case. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The Russian crown jewels were sold in London after the revolution to raise funds for the new regime,” he continued. “It’s just possible that this is a Russian crown jewel. Wouldn’t [that] be marvellous?” </p> <p dir="ltr">Munn dubbed the entire collection “marvellous things”, declaring that “they’re not showy. They’re utterly beautiful expressions of an era gone by and that’s what we’re looking for”, as well as announcing that the trio came in at a staggering value of approximately $62,000. </p> <p dir="ltr">The smaller bow came in at around $15,000, while the ruby brooch was valued at $18,800, and the ruby at $28,300.</p> <p dir="ltr">And while selling the set would have given the guest’s bank balance quite the boost, she had no intentions of parting with them any time soon. Instead, she intended for her daughters to inherit them. </p> <p dir="ltr">She enjoyed wearing the pieces, she said, but unfortunately, the bigger of the brooches were getting “difficult to wear nowadays … perhaps [they are] a bit more dated.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Antiques Roadshow / BBC</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Super rare car hidden in barn for 40 years set to sell for huge sum

<p>A rare BMW 507 that has spent nearly half a century sitting inside a garage has received a fresh breath of life.</p> <p>The 1957 Series II Roadster will go under the gavel at the Bonhams Audrain Concours action on the 30th of September, expecting to sell for between $1.8-$2.2 million.</p> <p>The 507 is widely considered the most collectible and coveted BMW to date. The German marque made only 252 examples of the flagship sports car throughout the late ‘50s.</p> <p>The glamorous convertible’s exclusivity (and price tag) attracted only the most VIP customers. Notable owners include Elvis and King Constantine II.</p> <p>This particular car was delivered new to Caracas, Venezuela. It was fitted with sought-after Rudge knock-off wheels and an optional hard top. As standard, the 507 was equipped with a V-8 engine and 4-speed ZF manual transmission.</p> <p>The antique piece eventually made its way to Montreal, Canada, and was snapped up by the current owner’s late father in 1979. It was driven straight into a suburban garage in Philadelphia and has been sitting there for the past 43 years. According to the auction house, the two-door was actually part of a fleet of 507s kept by the family and was only started up very occasionally.</p> <p>As for the condition, the BMW was treated to a makeover in the early ‘70s and repainted in Pontiac Bright Blue Metallic. Inside the original leather interior has what Bonhams calls a “lived-in” appearance.</p> <p>You can check out the car below:</p> <p><em>Images: Bonham</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Antiques Roadshow find stuns owner

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A man from Oxfordshire, UK has broken down in tears after bringing his late father’s Rolex in to be evaluated on Antiques Roadshow.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The middle-aged man carried two extra straps and an invoice along with his late dad’s watch which was purchased for $240 in 1972.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“He bought it for himself in 1972, when I was seven and me, my mum, my dad and my brother went to Birmingham to buy it,” the man said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When expert Richard Price said the watch was worth around $36,400, leaving the man speechless.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height:281.18811881188117px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841289/rolex.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/dc25af045b43496082c9bca5a780effe" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It means absolutely everything to me, it’s part of my dad. Very, very special watch that is, and it will be forever,” the man said to his family.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Richard also said that the straps alone were worth a “chunk of money”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His late dad passed on the Rolex to his son a few months before he passed away.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said, “My dad, he loved this program and he would have loved to see his watch on here but he wouldn’t have cared what it was worth.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fans shared their emotional reactions on Twitter.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The emotion of the guy knowing how much his late father’s Rolex is worth and his son’s face seeing his dad react like that is proper #antiquesroadshow,” one said.</span></p>

Money & Banking

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Toddler destroys $159,000 worth of antiques during visit

<p><span>A mum has shared the horrific story of her toddler destroying $159,000 of antiques while they were visiting a relative.</span></p> <p><span>On parenting forum Mumsnet, the British mum asked the question, “What is the most amount of damage your toddler has caused in someone else's house? Come and make me feel better."</span></p> <p><span>She then went on to explain that over the weekend her two-year-old son pressed a button on a small remote control which had been left on the coffee table at a relative’s house.</span></p> <p><span>"This caused the lid on the side cabinet to open and a TV to start sliding up," she explained.</span></p> <p><span>"Only problem was that the sideboard was currently being used to display a collection of antiques, which came spectacularly crashing down, one by one. </span></p> <p><span>"Estimated damage: one hundred thousand Euros.</span></p> <p><span>"And that doesn't include damage done to the parquet flooring from where the marble clock smashed on it."</span></p> <p><span>The initial responses to the mum’s post were in favour of the toddler, saying that it was irresponsible to leave the remote lying around when it had the potential to cause so much damage.</span></p> <p><span>"That really isn't you or your toddler's fault," wrote one user.</span></p> <p><span>"Why would someone store antiques worth so much money on top of a cabinet that opens upwards and then leave the thing that controls out on display?!! I don't get it," wrote another.</span></p> <p><span>"Whoever's house it is shouldn't leave remotes lying around for little fingers to touch if this is the type of potential damage so entirely their own fault," said one.</span></p> <p><span>However, one user said the blame was solely on the toddler’s mother.</span></p> <p><span>"If you go to someone’s house who doesn’t have kids, supervise them constantly and don’t let them get hold of remotes, quite basic," said one reader.</span></p> <p><span>Other parents also shared their horror experiences, with one mum recalling the time her toddler ruined someone’s carpet.</span></p> <p><span>"Not quite as bad as yours, but we went for a playdate with a few other kids when DS was small, and they decided that the host's cream bedroom carpet was the wrong colour, so the whole gang got busy with a pot of paint to change it to purple," said one mum.</span></p> <p><span>"DS was also caught (with his BFF) pouring a whole set of expensive Clarins products down the loo."</span></p> <p><span>Did your child or grandchild ever break something expensive that belonged to someone else? If so, share your story in the comments below. </span></p>

Art

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The most stunning find in Antiques Roadshow history

<p>Antiques Roadshow has got to be one of the most compelling programs on television. Whether it’s the overzealous hoarder getting their comeuppance when they realise what their valued item isn’t worth as much as they thought it was, or the opportunistic collector <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/01/man-old-blanket-worth-a-fortune/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">finding out the throw rug in their living room is worth a fortune</span></strong></a>, there’s a sense of drama around each episode that has fans of the show glued to the screen.</p> <p>The people, items and the stories behind them <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/retirement-life/2017/11/this-is-the-most-expensive-antiques-roadshow-item-ever/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">are always incredibly interesting</span></strong></a>, although we think the ones featured in today’s episode might just take the cake.</p> <p>This clip, which originally aired during the American version of the popular television show, might just represent the most stunning find in Antiques Roadshow history.</p> <p>Check it out for yourself below:</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ed8vJdlWbWs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>What did you think? Did the valuation surprise you?</p> <p><em>Hero image credit: YouTube / PBSAmerica</em></p>

Retirement Income

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10 tips for buying antiques

<p>Whether you’re a collector, bargain hunter or mere browser, antique shopping can prove a treasure trove for quirky, unique and collectible items. Keep your eyes peeled and you could find a Georgian mahogany chest of drawers for the same price as a flat-pack equivalent from a certain Scandinavian megastore. Out with the new, in with the old, we say! Don’t know where to start? Use this 10-point guide to steer you in the right direction.</p> <p><strong>1. Trust your gut and your eye</strong></p> <p>Buy what you love, not what you think will make you money. Avoid slavishly following trends and second-guessing the market, as you may have to live with the item for a long time. If you happen to be like me, drawn to fascinating yet fairly useless objects like taxidermied​ hares and mismatched cut-crystal glasses, then so be it. There’s a fine line between ugly and amazing.</p> <p><strong>2. Get out of town</strong></p> <p>Everyone knows antique centres and vintage bazaars get better the further you get out of any major city. Victory Theatre Antique Centre in Blackheath, Antiques &amp; Collectables on Darby in Cooks Hill and Newcastle’s Centenary Antique and Rare Find Country Antiques are just a few of our favourites, with a pick-n-mix of pieces crammed into every inch of space, much like your nana’s​ living room. We also have a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.piecesofvictoria.com/2014/07/antique-hunting-top-vintage-finds-in-regional-victoria/" target="_blank">hit list</a></strong></span> for regional Victoria. And don’t limit it to brick-and-mortar stores. If you happen to be there on a weekend, you can usually get a good deal with an amateur dealer at a car boot sale or jumble sale.</p> <p><strong>3. Be wary of certain words</strong></p> <p>If something is described as Louis XV “style” or “inspired”, you’re not buying a mid-18th-century French original, but a shabby chic rococo rip-off. “Limited edition” is another phrase that has been overused to the point of meaninglessness. The piece could easily have been “limited” to a million. Be sure to clarify before laying down any cash.</p> <p><strong>4. Play the singles game</strong></p> <p>Looking for chairs? Steering clear of sets can save you hundreds, even thousands. Dealers don’t know what to do with single chairs so often sell them for cheap. Over time, you can create a harmonious harlequin set, selecting items from the same time period for an eclectic yet customised look when placed around the dining table. </p> <p><strong>5. Ask key questions</strong></p> <p>Beyond “Do you love it?”, ask things like: “How rare is this particular item?”, “Is it a good example of its type?”, “Is it in good condition?”, “Is it by a notable maker or designer?”, “Are there any unexplained bolts, screws, stains or signs of repair?” Get in there and really examine it from every angle. Also, asking a lot of questions can get the seller into a frame of mind that makes them want to close the deal while they’re doing a lot of explaining.</p> <p><strong>6. Barter smarter</strong></p> <p>The people who deal in antique wares are usually addicts. That is to say, they’re keen to sell what they have and make room for more antiques. Haggling is a worthy pursuit, but don’t short-circuit the negotiation by going too low. If an item’s priced at $200, for example, go in with $150 and they’ll probably counteroffer $175. A 10 per cent reduction is almost always expected. If in doubt, ask them to put the item on hold. If you’re willing to pay a few hundred (or thousand) dollars for it, chances are they’ll be willing to wait.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ed8vJdlWbWs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><strong>7. Trust your dealer</strong></p> <p>A good antiques dealer will know the history behind an item, take their time to explain any imperfections and should be happy to take it back if you get it home and aren’t 100 per cent happy. Their job requires them to be a bit of a teacher, historian and storyteller.</p> <p><strong>8. Auctions for beginners</strong></p> <p>If you buy antiques at auction, keep in mind that the estimate price in the catalogue does not include the buyer’s premium, which is usually in the region of 20 per cent. Also, make a plan for transportation before you decide on an object. The auction house will usually only hold it for a few days.</p> <p><strong>9. Do your homework</strong></p> <p>Learn about what you’re buying. Visit collections and dealers, attend auctions, read up, talk to experts, and even go to museums to get a sense of period pieces. Know as much as you can about a particular field so you can make an informed decision as to items and price. There are also <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/da2d7608-bd03-11df-954b-00144feab49a.html#axzz3wJHmQYAo" target="_blank">online valuation services and iPhone apps</a></strong></span> such as <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/christies/id322000464?mt=8" target="_blank">this one</a></strong></span><strong><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/christies/id322000464?mt=8" target="_blank"></a> </strong>making it quicker and easier to find out how much something’s worth.</p> <p><strong>10. Enjoy them</strong></p> <p>Collect what is beautiful and precious, but also useable. Quality and liveability should go hand in hand, so use every piece as it was intended. Their mere existence proves they were built to last.  </p> <p>Do you enjoy antique shopping?</p> <p><em>Written by Kathleen Lee-Joe. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Money & Banking

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This is the most expensive Antiques Roadshow item ever

<p>For months this item was a closely guarded secret, only known to the top producers of <em>Antiques Roadshow.</em></p> <p>But now, the most valuable item to ever been on the show has been revealed as a delicate Fabergé flower owned by a British army regiment that is said to be £1 million (NZ$1.9million).</p> <p>The piece features a pear blossom sprig in a crystal vase with “QOWH South Africa 1900” engraved across it.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">A spokesman for Fabergé said, “We can reveal more about the piece taken to the Antiques Roadshow. Its engraved gold stem is placed in a rock crystal vase, carved so it appears to be half full of water. The six flowers of blossom are gold with white enamel and shades of pale pink. Their stamens are oxidised silver with a diamond at the centre, while the leaves are carved nephrite.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;" class="mol-para-with-font"><img width="306" height="459" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/45030/faberge-flower-in-text.jpg" alt="Faberge Flower In Text"/></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">The delicate piece was taken to a BBC filming event near Birmingham by two British soldiers.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Only six inches high, it is one of 80 surviving Fabergé botanical pieces in the world.</p> <p><em>Antiques Roadshow</em> executive producer Simon Shaw described the piece as “one of the most significant jewellery finds in 40 years”.</p> <p>Tatiana Fabergé, the great-granddaughter of Fabergé founder Peter, revealed that the piece was a gift from an aristocrat to a British army regiment.</p> <p>Society aristocrat Georgina Ward, Countess of Dudley, gifted the flower to the Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars (QOWH) in the early 1900s.</p> <p>Georgina’s late husband had been the regiment’s commanding officer and she was known for giving sprigs of pear blossom to the soldiers for good luck.</p> <p>The Fabergé piece was intended to be a regimental trophy for their service in the Boer War.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see other notable finds from the show. </p>

Retirement Life

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Vandals ruin antique train carriages used for popular TV shows

<p>Vandals have caused “significant criminal damage” to antique train carriages that are regularly used in period television dramas including <em>Downton Abbey</em> and <em>Dad’s Army</em>.</p> <p>The incident followed a '60s alcohol-fuelled festival which welcomed thousands to enjoy live music just metres away from where the carriages were vandalised.</p> <p>It is believed the carriages were targeted because they were parked in a siding at Pickering according to North Yorkshire Moors Railway.</p> <p>General manager Chris Price said, “We were absolutely devastated to discover that the carriages had been damaged overnight.”</p> <p>“Until the set has been completely assessed we will not know the full extent of the damage caused.”</p> <p>“I doubt very much that the set will run again in the 2017 season.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="499" height="645" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39926/in-text-train_499x645.jpg" alt="In Text Train (1)"/></p> <p>Supporters have already donated hundreds of pounds towards the repair of the antique carriages, which is thought to cost thousands to restore.</p> <p>The carriages, dating from 1930 to 1950, have appeared in various films and TV shows.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="360" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39927/downton-abbey_498x360.jpg" alt="Downton Abbey"/></p> <p>North Yorkshire Police said the vandals smashed windows to gain access to the train compartments and then proceeded to trash the carriages between 10 pm on Saturday and 7 am on Sunday.</p> <p>The carriages are owned and maintained by the London and North Eastern Railway Coach Association (LNERCA), a charitable organisation that restores heritage coaches for use on the NYMR.</p> <p>North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a historic line in Britain, takes visitors on journeys along an 18-mile railway line aboard steam and heritage diesel trains.</p> <p>“What has been a busy and enjoyable weekend for all those involved in the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, has now been overshadowed by this mindless act of vandalism,” said North Yorkshire Police Inspector Martin Dennison.</p> <p>“There is understandably a feeling of anger and outrage among the community and police are determined to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”</p>

TV

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Victorian painting is “one of the best ever seen” on Antique Roadshow

<p>An art expert on <em>Antiques Roadshow</em> has been left stunned by a Victorian-era painting that is estimated to be worth as much as $500,000.</p> <p>The portrait of engraver Leopold Lowenstam by Victorian artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema has "left the art world stunned" said Rupert Maas, the popular program's expert appraiser.</p> <p>"I think this might be one of the best pictures we've ever seen on the Roadshow in its entire history," he said.</p> <p><img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/27945/art_497x280.jpg" alt="Art" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>The painting was brought to be appraised by the Lowenstam’s great-grandson, who said his great-grandfather and Alma-Tadema were close friends.</p> <p>"The portrait was a wedding present in 1883 and it was exhibited at the Royal Academy a year later in 1884," Lowenstam's grandson said.</p> <p>The painting is now amongst one of Antiques Roadshow’s most valuable items. The record is held by the FA Cup winner’s trophy, which was valued at $1.7 million.</p> <p>Since the episode was filmed, the portrait has been restored and will be displayed in West London's Leighton House next month.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/2016/08/woman-with-ms-turns-mris-into-art/"><em>Woman diagnosed with MS turns her brain scans into art</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/2016/07/incredible-optical-illusion-paintings/"><em>Optical illusion paintings bowling people over</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/2016/06/artist-creates-portraits-of-the-dying/">Artist creates beautiful portraits of the dying</a></em></strong></span></p>

News

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Cruising through antiquity on the Nile without the crowd

<p>On the top deck of the cruise ship River Tosca, the swimming pool was cool and inviting in the afternoon heat. Below, the fabled Nile River was wide and blue and calm. Palm trees dotted the shoreline where farm animals grazed.</p> <p>And I had the deck of the 72-metre ship all to myself.</p> <p>That's emblematic of cruising the Nile in a time when Egypt's tourist industry has been decimated by fears that the turmoil of 2011's Arab Spring lingers. The ship, designed to carry 82, had only 16 passengers for a week's journey in late February. We enjoyed hand-and-foot service and had no crowds to fight as we strolled through some of the most famous and spectacular remains of the land of pharaohs.</p> <p>Beth Misakonis and her husband, Leo, retired information technology professionals from the US, decided 2016 was the year for them to rebook their Egyptian cruise that was cancelled during the Arab Spring protests. Friends and relatives urged them not to go. But Beth noted that mass shootings happen in the US. "I think there are risks anywhere and everywhere," she said. Added Leo, "It's always been on our bucket list."</p> <p>A river cruise isn't always the best way to see a country's highlights, but it works perfectly for Egypt. The Nile's valley is Egypt's heartland and breadbasket, and the river itself is the main highway of Egyptian history, from Cairo in the north to Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel in the south. It's a tour where your clean, cool, spacious hotel room follows you from place to place, with no luggage to haul.</p> <p>Today's Egypt seemed a calm enough place when we visited. The country's military-led regime overthrew an elected Islamist government in 2013 and has since cracked down brutally on all forms of dissent, including the Muslim Brotherhood, the main Islamic social-political movement.</p> <p>Our small group with Uniworld river cruise line - all but two of us Americans - was often discreetly accompanied by armed guards. Whether that made us feel safer is up for debate, but no one in the group seemed concerned about our security, except perhaps when approached by locals desperate to sell us souvenirs. That wasn't always pleasant, but given the tourism decline it's easy to understand. A firm "la shukran" (no thank you) was usually enough to turn them away.</p> <p>The itinerary began and ended in Cairo, where the Four Seasons Hotel was our refuge in the sprawling, chaotic, dusty metropolis. We spent a full day at the beginning of the tour, and another at the end, in Cairo, at the same hotel. On the first day we saw the Egyptian Museum and Tahrir Square; on the last, we visited the pyramids.</p> <p>After an hour's flight south from Cairo we embarked on the River Tosca at Luxor, site of the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes. Many of the great sites of Egyptian antiquity are within a short bus ride of Luxor, including the temples of Karnak and Luxor, with their rows of massive columns. Only a bit farther away, on the Nile's west bank, lies the Valley of the Kings, burial place of Egyptian rulers over five centuries. The tombs showcase chambers with well-preserved paintings and hieroglyphics.</p> <p>From Luxor we sailed to Aswan, a little more than 161 kilometres south. We took a ride in a felucca, one of the nimble boats with triangular sails that have plied the river for centuries. On the way to visit a Nubian village, we stopped at a small sandy beach, where I walked down a plank lodged against the boat and waded into the cool, clear waters of the Nile.</p> <p>In British colonial times, Aswan's Old Cataract Hotel (cataract is an old-fashioned term for waterfall) was a favourite stop for tourists, including Agatha Christie, who wrote Death on the Nile there. We dropped in for high tea and a tour before returning to the ship.</p> <p>These days, Aswan is the southern terminus of Nile cruising - the Aswan High Dam, built with Soviet aid in the mid-20th century, cuts off river traffic there. Aswan is also the jumping-off point for what might be Egypt's most spectacular ancient site. And no, I don't mean the pyramids. A short flight south took us to Abu Simbel, the cliff-side temple complex built by the pharaoh Ramses II nearly 3300 years ago.</p> <p>Eighteen-metre-high statues of Ramses guard intimate temple chambers carved from solid rock. Even more amazing is the temple's recent history. When the construction of the high dam threatened to submerge the temple beneath Lake Nasser, the whole complex was carved into pieces and reassembled nearby on higher ground, grafted onto artificial cliffs custom-built to hold it. It's an engineering feat to rival anything the pharaohs accomplished.</p> <p>But the trip's most memorable moment didn't involve a temple, tomb or pyramid. On the last full day of the cruise, in late afternoon, my husband and I took a bottle of Egyptian red wine up to the top deck. We had the space to ourselves. The setting sun painted the western sky pink and blue behind streaks of clouds as we cruised north toward Luxor. Red, sandstone cliffs rose in the distance. A light breeze took the edge off the fading heat of the day. The only sound was the thrum of the ship's engines.</p> <p>We sipped our wine, read and watched the riverbank panorama for at least an hour, perhaps two. Then, from the direction of the rising moon, the Muslim call to evening prayer sounded, first from one brightly lit minaret in a riverside town, then another, and finally a chorus of rhythmic, fervent chanting.</p> <p>It was a sound that had been heard at this time of day, in this place for more than a millennium. And the pharaohs of Egypt had journeyed down this stretch of river two millennia before that.</p> <p>Perhaps there was a pretty sunset and a gentle breeze for their cruise, too.</p> <p><em>Written by Terri Colby. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/08/my-first-ever-solo-trip-since-my-husband-passed-away/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>My first ever solo trip since my husband passed away</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/cruising/2016/07/5-of-the-longest-rivers-in-the-world-to-cruise/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>5 of the longest rivers in the world to cruise</em></strong></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/5-more-international-cities-you-should-never-visit-alone/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>5 more international cities you should never visit alone</strong></em></span></a></p>

Cruising

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An antique shop guide to Sydney

<p>There is something quite exhilarating about finding a vintage gem. You’ve done the hard yards – gone out of your way to travel to the antique store (you aren’t buying at malls), explored every nook and cranny of the shop, rummaged high and low and almost given up until you stumble on something truly one-of-a-kind. We know that satisfied feeling so we asked you – our Over60 community – for your favourite antique stores because who else is better equipped than the locals and the experts of our community? Luckily, Over60 community members were only too happy to share their favourite antique shops. So on your next trip to Sydney (or if you live here) you’ll want to take note of these. And for those of you across Australia who want to know about antique stores new you, stay tuned we will bring you more shopping guides in the coming months.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Charna Burdett, 69, from Kellyville, NSW, recommends <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ALittleBitofTrashandTreasure" target="_blank"><em>A Little Bit of Trash and Treasure</em></a> (Shop 51, Station Road, Toongabbie.)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ALittleBitofTrashandTreasure"></a></strong></span></p><p>They have a great variety of pre-loved and vintage collectable items ranging from furniture, bric-a-brac, knick-knacks, lamps, giftware and jewellery.</p><p>“I love to visit them because the items in the shop they buy from auctions are very old world and remind me of my childhood,” says Charna. “They have antique furs, old lamps, really beautiful old items which bring back memories!”</p><p>“I have bought a cast iron saucepan, a big basket and some gloves.”</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>If anyone is ever in the Central Coast area, Diane Koszek, 60, from Chipping Norton, NSW, favourite antique shop is <a href="http://www.gumnutantiques.com.au/shop.html" target="_blank"><em>Gumnut Antiques</em></a> (296 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty).<a href="http://www.gumnutantiques.com.au/shop.html"></a></strong></span></p><p>“Gumnut Antiques has so much fantastic memorabilia – a real walk down memory lane,” says Diane.</p><p>“This is where my husband found my perfect 50th birthday present. It was a gold half sovereign depicting the 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria in 1887. This was on a beautiful gold chain. I have always had a fascination for Queen Victoria’s life and this gift could not have been better,” she shares.</p><p>“I also have seen things from my childhood Singer treadle machines which my grandmother used to show me how to sew on. There are so many other things which remind me of my childhood days.”</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>To score a bargain in the city, Cheryl O’Brien recommends <a href="http://mitchellroad.wordpress.com" target="_blank"><em>Mitchell Road Antique &amp; Design Centre</em> </a>(17 Bourke Road, Alexandria).</strong></span></p><p>“Always full of interesting second-hand furniture and homeware, it is almost impossible to visit Mitchell Road without coming home with a bargain or something you have not been able to find elsewhere,” she says.</p><p>“What I also love about this antique store is they have arranged things so it feels like there are little shops within the space by arranging similar things together – for example all stools are together and all wardrobes together and so on. There is also a good range of garden decorator items, garden furniture and pots. And in another section they are a good range of silver cutlery, trays and also crystal pieces.”</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Pam Talbot now lives in Queensland but remembers many good antique stores from when she used to reside in Sydney.</strong></span></p><p>“There have always been a plethora of antique shops along the Great Western Highway between Parramatta and Mount Victoria,” she says. “Just the scenery is worth the drive.”</p><p>Pam recommends Kurrajong Antiques Centre (101 Old Bells Line Of Road, Kurrajong, NSW) for “good jewellery and glassware.” They have a vast collection of pieces including fine china, crystal and wooden items housed in an old Art Deco styled movie theatre.</p><p>In Windsor, Pam says to look out for Lucilles Interesting Collectables (22 Kable St, Windsor, NSW) for good jewellery or <a href="http://thompsonscountrycollectables.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Thompson Country Collectables</strong></span></a> (11 New Street, Windsor, NSW) for Georgian, Victorian and later furniture, glass, porcelain and jewellery.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Michelle Rogers says to look out for <em><a href="http://www.bakerhoughtonantiques.com.au/" target="_blank">Baker and Houghton Antiques</a></em> (66 Planthurst Road, Carlton, NSW) who source their wares from France, UK and North America as well as locally.</strong></span></p><p>“Fabulous shop, fabulous owners! I have a house full of their beautiful furniture!” says Michelle.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Beverley Hampson has founds a whole host of shops under one roof!<br></strong></span><em><a href="http://www.southernantiques.com.au/" target="_blank"><span><strong>Southern Antique Centre</strong></span></a></em> (243-245 Princes High, Sydney, NSW). There are 20 different antique dealers here with an extensive and varied range of collectables whether you’re after furniture, china or jewellery. &nbsp;</p>

Domestic Travel

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Could you be sitting on an antiques goldmine

<p>Before you give your grandchildren all your old junk for a garage sale, could there be something valuable nestling in your clutter? Find out how to self-appraise the value of your antiques and see if you can unlock a fortune…</p><p><strong>Compare and contrast</strong></p><p>Professional appraisers start by researching how much similar items have fetched at auction. There are various websites where you can check auction results, including:</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.ebay.com.au%20" target="_blank">www.ebay.com.au&nbsp;</a></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.sothebysaustralia.com.au/">www.sothebysaustralia.com.au</a></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.carters.com.au/">www.carters.com.au</a></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.askart.com/">www.askart.com</a></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.artfact.com/">www.artfact.com</a></strong></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.skinnerinc.com/">www.skinnerinc.com</a></strong></span></p><p>Take an average of the values you find to get an idea of what your antique might be worth, and bear in mind that online auctions generally fetch less than offline, and dealers generally pay a wholesale price to cover their overheads. An offline private sale is likely to make more money, but can be harder to come by.</p><p><strong>Condition</strong></p><p>Condition is crucial to an antique’s worth. Even a tiny chip out of a corner can have a dramatic effect on its worth, so be honest with yourself when examining its condition and comparing it to a similar piece that has sold at auction.</p><p>Take all flaws into consideration including chips, cracks, excessive wear, tears, stains and missing components- anything that prevents you describing it as ‘like new’ or ‘in mint condition’. If glue is present or it looks as though chips have been ground down, it could at some point have been repaired. Professional repairs don’t necessarily detract too much from an antique’s value, whereas poor repairs can.</p><p>If your antique is badly damaged, don’t condemn it to that garage sale until you’ve done a bit more research. You might be able to sell it to a dealer for parts, or to someone who specialises in making over antiques.</p><p><strong>Fake it or make it?</strong></p><p>Take a magnifying glass and have a close inspection to see if your antique has a manufacturer or designer stamp on it. This will not only help you research its value but will likely add value, too, if it turns out to be authentic. A stamp may also help you discover how rare your piece is. The more rare, the more it’s worth. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Pieces that have been handed down generations are more likely to be authentic than something you picked up at a garage sale or flea market a few years ago. In those cases, you’ll need to work a little harder to authenticate it and may need to pay for a written appraisal from a professional.</p><p><strong>Trend-setting</strong></p><p>As with any sale, demand is key. You might think your enormous hunting scene oil painting is a stunner, but others might think it’s, well, no oil painting! If it isn’t in vogue then there might not be much demand. For example, Tiffany lampshades were once considered gaudy, but now they’re very much coveted and their value has rocketed.</p><p>Scan home and lifestyle magazines, websites and homeware shops to see what is considered ‘retro’ and what kinds of antique pieces people are blending with modern décor in their period home renovations.</p>

Home & Garden

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An antique shop guide to Sydney

<p>There is something quite exhilarating about finding a vintage gem. You’ve done the hard yards – gone out of your way to travel to the antique store (you aren’t buying at malls), explored every nook and cranny of the shop, rummaged high and low and almost given up until you stumble on something truly one-of-a-kind. We know that satisfied feeling so we asked you – our Over60 community – for your favourite antique stores because who else is better equipped than the locals and the experts of our community? Luckily, Over60 community members were only too happy to share their favourite antique shops. So on your next trip to Sydney (or if you live here) you’ll want to take note of these. And for those of you across Australia who want to know about antique stores new you, stay tuned we will bring you more shopping guides in the coming months.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Charna Burdett, 69, from Kellyville, NSW, recommends <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ALittleBitofTrashandTreasure" target="_blank"><em>A Little Bit of Trash and Treasure</em></a> (Shop 51, Station Road, Toongabbie.)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ALittleBitofTrashandTreasure"></a></strong></span></p><p>They have a great variety of pre-loved and vintage collectable items ranging from furniture, bric-a-brac, knick-knacks, lamps, giftware and jewellery.</p><p>“I love to visit them because the items in the shop they buy from auctions are very old world and remind me of my childhood,” says Charna. “They have antique furs, old lamps, really beautiful old items which bring back memories!”</p><p>“I have bought a cast iron saucepan, a big basket and some gloves.”</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>If anyone is ever in the Central Coast area, Diane Koszek, 60, from Chipping Norton, NSW, favourite antique shop is <a href="http://www.gumnutantiques.com.au/shop.html" target="_blank"><em>Gumnut Antiques</em></a> (296 The Entrance Road, Long Jetty).<a href="http://www.gumnutantiques.com.au/shop.html"></a></strong></span></p><p>“Gumnut Antiques has so much fantastic memorabilia – a real walk down memory lane,” says Diane.</p><p>“This is where my husband found my perfect 50th birthday present. It was a gold half sovereign depicting the 50th year of the reign of Queen Victoria in 1887. This was on a beautiful gold chain. I have always had a fascination for Queen Victoria’s life and this gift could not have been better,” she shares.</p><p>“I also have seen things from my childhood Singer treadle machines which my grandmother used to show me how to sew on. There are so many other things which remind me of my childhood days.”</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>To score a bargain in the city, Cheryl O’Brien recommends <a href="http://mitchellroad.wordpress.com" target="_blank"><em>Mitchell Road Antique &amp; Design Centre</em> </a>(17 Bourke Road, Alexandria).</strong></span></p><p>“Always full of interesting second-hand furniture and homeware, it is almost impossible to visit Mitchell Road without coming home with a bargain or something you have not been able to find elsewhere,” she says.</p><p>“What I also love about this antique store is they have arranged things so it feels like there are little shops within the space by arranging similar things together – for example all stools are together and all wardrobes together and so on. There is also a good range of garden decorator items, garden furniture and pots. And in another section they are a good range of silver cutlery, trays and also crystal pieces.”</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Pam Talbot now lives in Queensland but remembers many good antique stores from when she used to reside in Sydney.</strong></span></p><p>“There have always been a plethora of antique shops along the Great Western Highway between Parramatta and Mount Victoria,” she says. “Just the scenery is worth the drive.”</p><p>Pam recommends Kurrajong Antiques Centre (101 Old Bells Line Of Road, Kurrajong, NSW) for “good jewellery and glassware.” They have a vast collection of pieces including fine china, crystal and wooden items housed in an old Art Deco styled movie theatre.</p><p>In Windsor, Pam says to look out for Lucilles Interesting Collectables (22 Kable St, Windsor, NSW) for good jewellery or <a href="http://thompsonscountrycollectables.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Thompson Country Collectables</strong></span></a> (11 New Street, Windsor, NSW) for Georgian, Victorian and later furniture, glass, porcelain and jewellery.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Michelle Rogers says to look out for <em><a href="http://www.bakerhoughtonantiques.com.au/" target="_blank">Baker and Houghton Antiques</a></em> (66 Planthurst Road, Carlton, NSW) who source their wares from France, UK and North America as well as locally.</strong></span></p><p>“Fabulous shop, fabulous owners! I have a house full of their beautiful furniture!” says Michelle.</p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Beverley Hampson has founds a whole host of shops under one roof!<br></strong></span><em><a href="http://www.southernantiques.com.au/" target="_blank"><span><strong>Southern Antique Centre</strong></span></a></em> (243-245 Princes High, Sydney, NSW). There are 20 different antique dealers here with an extensive and varied range of collectables whether you’re after furniture, china or jewellery. &nbsp;</p>

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