Former Thomas Watson Auctioneers director David Elstob is to launch his own auction house with wife Beth Elstob.
Extracted from Antiques Trade Gazette | Laura Chesters
Elstob & Elstob, based at Bedale Hall, the Grade I-listed Palladian-style country house in the town of Bedale, North Yorkshire, will hold its first auction at the hall on March 24.
It plans four fine art, antiques and jewellery auctions at Bedale Hall and a fifth auction of silver, jewellery, watches and objects of vertu will take place in December 2019 at Newby Hall in Ripon.
Team of specialists
The new firm has a team of six including consultants Richard Edwards, Henrietta Graham, Clive Taylor and watch specialist Nick Bassett. Edwards and David Elstob will conduct auctions.
The firm will charge buyer’s premium of 20% and seller’s fees at 15%.
Elstob said: “We are pitching fees competitively. As an industry I am concerned about the way buyer’s premium fees are creeping up.”
Elstob, who is RICS qualified, said his firm will also focus on valuations, which it will offer by appointment. He added: “We will really push the valuation services side of the business. We want to add a personal service so encourage clients to book and we have valuation dates planned for this year.”
Elstob worked at Thomas Watson for six years and prior to that spent 12 years with Addisons in Barnard Castle.