About

   CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 

 

• Undertaking a detailed valuation of the contents of Skibo Castle, Dornoch, Scotland at the time the home of the daughter of Andrew Carnegie. 

 

• Discovering an 18th Century Italian violin at a semi-detached house in Shirley. The violin, dated 1743 and made in Genoa, achieved £23,000.  Also, two other violins in the house, each making £8,000. 

 

• Discovering a Ming Dynasty Blue and White dish that achieved £8,800.

 

• Assisting in the Harry Ellard Estate auction sale – including 113 classic motor vehicles. Harry Ellard was a recent owner of Compton Verney, Warwickshire.

 

• Undertaking the Probate valuation of the Late Lord Harlech’s unique collection of Fine Art and Silver in North Wales where we found a 12th-century Illuminated Manuscript.

 

Lectures & Talks

I'm very active across The Midlands, lecturing and holding talks and roadshows and conducting Charity auctions and other fundraising events for local societies and groups. These include Antiques Societies, WIs, PROBUS, Townswomen’s Guild, and U3A on subjects that include Buying and Selling at Auction, Tales from the Auction Room, Browsing Antiques Shops, The Hoarder Next Door, Collecting Wine as an Investment, and Identifying and Valuing Old Silver. I undertake more than 150 talks each year.

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Experience

I've worked in many salerooms across the UK throughout my career. Notably, this includes Thomas Love, Perth, Biddle & Webb, Birmingham and 25 years as Managing Director of Bigwoods, before running my own Saleroom, Steven B Bruce Auctioneers Ltd for 15 years, based in Stratford upon Avon.