October 2012
Jonathan had always enjoyed auctions. Even as a young child, he had been fascinated when he followed his father Bert around. His father had been assistant auctioneer at Crawfords' Auction House in Salisbury. Often he would allow Jonathan to help set out the smaller items, whilst telling the points to look for, and how to show them at their best. Occasionally Jon would be allowed to look through the pieces in a job lot, and spend his pocket money on a piece.
As he had grown older, Jon had worked at Crawfords' during the school holidays and on Saturdays. He loved holding up the smaller items for viewing, and hearing the bidding. He helped set them out and pack them away when they had been bought. He learnt so much there from his father and the other workers. Then he had gone to college to study antiques and their history. Now, at thirty five he had his own shop near Malmsbury.
His father had retired now but still kept his ear to the ground, and read the trade papers. If he heard of anything special he would let Jonathan know. This was why Jon had returned to Salisbury today, to attend the auction at Crawfords'. It had seemed strange to be back. Although all the workers there were now new, the atmosphere was just the same.
Jon had arrived early and spent some time strolling round the barn where the smaller items were laid out, marking out pieces he admired. He had bid on several and had been successful with many. So he had a good collection of glass, china and silverware to take back. He knew there were some very good pieces there which would fit in well in the shop. He had also bid for two exceptionally beautiful pieces of jewellery and knew he would be able to sell them immediately for a profit.
Jon had packed his purchases into his van and joined other bidders and friends for lunch at a local pub. Now he was back to look at the furniture which would be sold from the larger barn this afternoon. He had been strolling about for about fifteen minutes, choosing the pieces he would bid for, when he saw it, half hidden in the corner, in pieces, but he could still see the beauty of it, carved and glowing a warm red. He went nearer, so he could see it properly. The posts were there, as were the head and foot boards, all carved. It sent shivers down his back as a memory came into his mind.
He could see the four poster bed with its rich tapestries in the darkened room. Mrs.Regus looking so small in it. An old woman who had always shown an interest in Jonathan and his thirst for knowledge of antiques. She had lived next door to his family and had spent time talking to him.
The more he looked at the bed pieces, the more convinced he was, that this was her bed. He touched the warm wood, with a feeling of nostalgia. He hadn't meant to buy anything so big, but he felt he had to try and bid for it.
Jon bid for some smaller pieces of furniture, a small coffee table, an old sewing box and a writing table, all in beautiful condition and made of a glowing oak. He was successful in his bids and was pleased with his purchases.
About half way through the furniture sale Lot 241, the bed came up. He waited as the bidding started, quite low, but two very interested parties were bidding. Slowly the price went up and one bidder fell out. Jon joined in with his first bid, he couldn't see who the other bidder was but knew they were on the other side of the room. As he bid higher, he noticed a slight hesitation from them. Finally he had won and had bought the bed.
At the end of the auction, he packed his van, and decided to call on his father and tell him of his purchases, before returning home. After all it was on his way out of the city.
As he pulled up outside his old home, his father came out, and took a look at the goods in the van. Just then a small car pulled up next door, and a young lady got out, went up the pathway to the door of Mrs.Regus' old house.
'Why, hello Jenny,' said Bert. 'Are you back to stay?'
'Yes; Grandmother left me the house,' replied Jenny. 'But she left all the contents to Jack. He lives in America, so he asked the agent to sell everything.'
'Jenny . . .' thought Jon. The name rang a bell in his mind. When he visited Mrs.Regus, there were sometimes two children there, a boy and a girl, Jack and Jenny.
'I'm so glad to see you,' went on Bert. 'It will be lovely to have you living here.'
'Thanks,' Jenny called, as she opened the door to her 'new home'.
Bert continued to look at Jon's purchases in the van. Jenny came out and went to the back of her car, opened the boot, and took out a box. Jon went to help her and noticed that there was a china set in it.
'That is beautiful,' he said.
'Yes, it was my Grandmother's. I managed to get it back at the auction today.'
'Crawfords'? 'asked Jon. 'Yes,' was her reply. 'I had hoped to get some of the furniture back as well, but I was unlucky.'
Jon suddenly had an uncomfortable feeling. Had Jenny been bidding for the bed? Had he pushed too far and stopped her from buying back her Grandmother's bed? He felt his father looking at him in a strange way.
'What were you bidding for, in particular?' asked Bert.
'A few pieces, but especially the sewing box Grandmother always used,' Jenny replied.
Jon immediately went to his van and pulled out the box. 'This one?'
'Yes, oh yes.'
Bert gave another strange look at his son.
'Would you like it back?' asked Jon.
'Yes,' was the whispered reply. 'But how much did you pay for it , in the end?'
'You can afford it,' Jon said as he carried it up the path and into Jenny's home.
'Thank you so much.'
After a slight pause she went on, 'I see you bought the bed, I'm so glad. Grandmother would have been so pleased. She really thought a lot of you.'
Jon smiled.
'I remember her talking to you about antiques and what to look for,' continued Jenny. 'I see you are still interested in them.'
'Yes I have a shop in Malmsbury.'
'Perhaps I'll come and see you there, one day.'
'I'll look forward to it,' Jon went out and back to his van and Bert.
He spent a little more time with his father before heading out of town, towards his shop.
During the days that followed Jonathan put many of the items he had bought into his showroom, and several had been sold.
For some unknown reason he had done nothing with the bed pieces; he had them stored in the store room at the back of the shop. Every time he went in there he looked at them, standing against the wall. Was he going to try and find a buyer? Or was he going to keep the bed for himself?