The Gavel and The Gabble

Adam Hills from Retrouvius joins Harry and Simon this week to talk all about his business where he brings salvaged, reclaimed and vintage materials back into circulation. Find out how much is salvaged from building renovations, why reusing is always a better option than recycling, and why Adam thinks the government is hesitant to go all in on salvaging materials and reusing them. As well as that t...

Harry’s back from a busy week of charity auctions where he sold a tandem skydive, a Ferrari VIP experience, and threatened a former MP. Simon’s also had a busy week with his new employee Pablo the dog, who seems to be a fierce negotiator. Lyme Bay have also just wrapped up a vinyl sale where most of the buyers were from the US, find out why. Then the pair have all the usual interesting finds like...

This week Harry and Simon discuss the pitfalls of being risk averse when it comes to pricing at auctions and why starting low could actually help you achieve a higher percentage. There’s also chat about how Harry found selling his first ivory item under the new rules, Simon reserving a slot on the ATG’s wall of shame, and the popularity of walnut in a time where dark woods aren’t selling.  Ge...

Harry and Simon are back! But who’s this mysterious Pablo who has invaded Simon’s home? Could it be an infamous Colombian drug lord? The real answer is even more unlikely. In this episode there’s also chat on the items coming up for auction such as some Brazilian Pop Art that was rescued from a skip and a horde of silver found in an open garage. Listen in to find out why nobody wants your dining t...

This week it’s a seriously useful topic that could make you money. Harry and Simon are discussing how to make money from, and with your local auction house. This could be as a side hustle or a serious career. Listen in to find out how you can add value to items. How an auction house's distribution network helps you. What’s so special about items being new to the market, and finding your niche. The...

Harry and Simon are back to the usual format of both gavel and gabble! The gavel part covers a rather angry anonymous email they received from someone who might not understand how an auction actually works. So Harry and Simon explain the process behind how their auctions work and why it’s the right thing for them to get the best outcome for their clients as possible.  Then there’s plenty of g...

Michael Baggott returns to the podcast to tell Harry and Simon all about the Antiques Rescue Centre and the work they do around preserving items made with ivory that can’t be sold. Find out about what the ivory ban actually is, how the government is falling short, what happens to unwanted antiques made with ivory, how Michael and the ARC are trying to preserve cultural history, and what you can do...

It’s double the guests and double the chaos this week as Harry and Simon are joined by Adrian Higham, that’s Adi off of BBC One’s The Bidding Room and his wife, the true brains behind their business, Tara Franklin. Together the pair run Hoof Brocante, dealing in 18th and 19th Century French Decorative Antiques. Hear all about their trips to France buying antiques, Adi’s TV career, the amazing work...

Harry is back from his holiday and Simon is in heaven as the Head of Auctions at Historics Auctions, Matthew Priddy is on the show to talk about all things cars, buying and selling cars at auction, and barn finds. If you’re into your cars then this episode is for you, and even if you’re not, you’ll get to hear about the differences between Historics Auctions and what you’d find at Lyme Bay or Wind...

This week Harry is off sunning himself on a beach enjoying a cocktail with one of those little umbrellas in it. That means Simon has pleaded with producer David to put together the best and worst of part 2, so that he doesn't have to learn what any of the buttons in the studio do. These are some of the best clips from the podcast so far including clips from guests Sharon O’Connor and Michael Hawki...

We’re back! Slightly later than scheduled but it’s the bank holiday so can you really blame us? This week Producer David has got some listener questions about the auction trade for Harry and Simon to answer. Find out what happens when a buyer can’t pay for an item, why you can’t bid on an item in your own auction no matter how much you want it, where you’re going wrong when bidding, and so much mo...

Ever wondered how to spot a fake? Today on the podcast Harry and Simon will be telling you the work they have to do to verify the legitimacy of an item, who does what, and what happens when they find a fake. Harry also gives you some terrible advice…which legally isn’t advice…. On how to cheat your capital gains tax with gold coins. There’s stories on Simon’s beach house, the joys of auctioning Ch...

Legend of the industry, antiques silver specialist, researcher, dealer, and BBC Antiques Specialist, Michael Baggott joins Harry and Simon on the podcast this week. He’s here to tell his story, how he got into antiques, moving with the times, YouTube, and how TV demystifies auctions for the general public. Michael also shares his takes on what is selling right now and what isn’t, as well as why th...

He’s at it again, Simon has fallen in love with another item up for sale, this time a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust. He’s been told he can’t have it so to make up for that disappointment we’ve got a fantastic guest for you this week. Owner of Ryedale Auctioneers, Angus Ashworth, also known as The Yorkshire Auctioneer, is on the pod to chat about taking to the rostrum at 16, his time as a Mayor,...

Today Simon is embarrassing Harry in two ways, firstly by announcing that Windsor Auctions broke their house record at the last sale. Secondly by making Producer David edit in lots of clips from that auction where Harry got the estimates a little bit wrong. There were some fantastic items that could land Harry on the ATG ‘Wall of Shame’ such as a Victorian pinchbeck pearl necklace from Watherston...

Today on The Gavel & The Gabble Harry and Simon tell stories from their week including Harry getting dressed up all fancy for a charity auction and Simon falling in love with another item. This time it’s a huge Victorian bookcase so we look forward to him not wanting to sell that at the next auction. Find out why Harry and Simon are getting cancelled this week and Simon’s story of a homeowner...

Today Harry and Simon are joined by one of the most famous dealers on the TV right now, host of Bargain Hunt and antiques dealer extraordinaire, Danny Sebastian. He is by far one of the biggest personalities in the industry and shares some fantastic stories from his career as a dealer and on the telly. Listen in to find out Danny’s biggest profit, worst flop and about his passion for going green w...

Today Harry and Simon are joined by the absolutely terrific David Harper. You’ll know David from The BBC’s Antiques Road Trip and other TV appearances, but there’s a lot, and we mean a lot you might not have known about the man. David is here to chat about his work in TV, branching out into YouTube, being an artist and a writer and generally saying yes to everything. Find out about his love of cla...

Today as Harry and Simon are very busy with upcoming auctions and house clearances, we thought we’d bring you a ‘best of’ or maybe ‘worst of’ is more accurate. So producer Dave has been through the first 10 episodes of the podcast to find some funny bits that newer listeners might have missed. Back next week with another normal episode.  CONTACT Instagram @thegavelandthegabble Twitter @Gavela...

Today on the pod Harry and Simon actually talk about antiques and collectables instead of trying to inflict pain on each other. Harry tells us about a very nice large octagonal cut peach sapphire ring that is coming up for auction while Simon tells us why he's living in fear of the WI. The items they chat about include hand cranked Victorian printing presses and some exciting lots that could be fr...

Isabel Murtough, auctioneer and valuer extraordinaire joins Harry and Simon on the pod this week in the wake of the Hot Chip Challenge fallout. Izzy has just launched her brand new business, Isabel Murtough & Co which is designed to help the auction and antiques industry. Izzy tells us stories about selling a historical collection from the Suffragettes, being a woman on the rostrum, how s...

Today on the podcast Harry and Simon recap their last month of auction successes including big money made on a lovely Omega watch, Owl and the Pussycat brooch, and, in Simon’s words, a creepy doll. Your favourite auctioneering duo also taste test some sweets which were kindly sent over from Australia and Harry finally tricks Simon into doing the Hot Chip Challenge. CONTACT Instagram @thegavelandth...

Since Simon has just had his birthday we thought it would be great to have a little change to the formula and get someone young and successful on the podcast. This week Harry and Simon are joined by Matt Dixon of TallBoy Interiors to chat about how he has thrived on Instagram, his love of interior design, and how he came to own the best showroom in Yorkshire. Plus there’s loads of funny stories ab...

Matt Ball, publishing editor of the ATG, that’s the Antiques Trade Gazette joins Harry and Simon today to chat about the wonderful things he’s doing with the ATG and The Saleroom. Find out how Matt’s passion for the antiques trade is helping auctioneers, buyers and sellers all over the world. Also find out how the ATG has helped put stolen items such as Danish Silver and a nurse’s MBE medal back i...

Auctioneer, collector, dad, foodie, a man who has been described by the BBC as an antiques expert, Paul Laidlaw is on the podcast today! That’s right, the man off the telly has joined Harry and Simon for a chat about Temple Auction Rooms, his appearances on Antiques Road Trip, finding Oliver Cromwell’s Rolex and his surprising connection with NASA. There’s also a round-up of Simon and Harry’s Chri...