The painted Antiques sign seen in the popular antiques series Lovejoy sold at auction, as did Ian McShane’s black leather jacket which was also featured in the series. The sign was purchased by the current vendor over ten years ago at a charity auction, where it was signed by several of the cast who attended the event. The jacket was acquired on the set of the show during the 1990’s.[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:119.25pt; height:169.5pt'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\office\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" o:title=""></v:imagedata> </v:shape><![endif][if !vml][endif]
Since this time the sign has hung on display in the kitchen of the couples Suffolk home. But now they have downsized and have since decided to put it up for auction alongside other items from their home.
Lovejoy was filmed in around the area of Suffolk during the 1980's and early 1990's and helped to popularise the many distinctive and historic landmarks on the Suffolk/Essex border.
The sign is one of several used on set, which can be seen hanging outside Lovejoy’s workshop. Here at the auction centre we are just a stone’s throw away from Belchamp Hall, the home where the roguish antiques dealer, played by Ian McShane, was based.
Auctioneer James Mander said that these types of object are what makes his job so exciting, since he never knows what is going to turn up at the saleroom. He placed a guide price of £200/300 on the sign, which sold for £1,200, and £600/800 on the jacket, which sold for £1,000, although confessed that neither was an easy item to value.