The Elephants Foot Limped off at Spitalfields and the Weather Came Crashing in at Covent Garden

Thursday last started with the usual 'Blackpool Breakfast' (a gallon of sweet black tea and 20 cigarettes) at 'The Daily Grind Cafe' in Spitalfields. Sat outside reading my paper and wrapped up warm against the cold of the early morning in London. An old trader joined us, offering a cigarette as he sat down. All of us just sat in quiet contemplation of the world of the market trader in a city just waking up.

Trade, as I have stated earlier, has been really slow for the last few weeks. I have been earning about £0.90 an hour after taking out all the costs of transport, paying for the stall, and deducting the cost of the items sold. I am not complaining, just stating a fact. 

It is a little frustrating when customers think that they are at a  Car Boot Sale, (Garage Sale for our American readers, and Marche Aux Puces, for the French) rather than an Antiques Market. 'Champagne products at Beer Bottle Prices' is not the banner hanging above my stall!

I was discussing this with another trader in the afternoon over a cigarette. Everyone wants a bargain, and most people if they are canny, get one. However, those that seek something for nothing can be rather depressing, and particularly when it is another trader who screws you.

The Elephants foot has had a few mentions in this blog as the 'Marmite Foot': You either love it or hate it! lol Well, one of the other traders did love it, so much that he offered £500 for it. As was pointed out to him, £500 is a lot of money, however, the person that owns the foot wants that much returned to him, so would leave us with no profit whatsoever. No matter what we said, he was not prepared to up the offer even by £5 to give us a return on all the effort we have taken with the foot over the weeks. In fact, his response was 'Give the supplier £450 and pocket £50 for yourself!'

I did not deal with this person, it was my partner. I would have walked away, forgoing selling the foot for our friend out of principal. (The friend is a little short of money at the moment, so it would not have been good for him, but it would have made me feel better)! Hand shakes were made and goods and money exchanged, leaving a sour taste in my mouth for hours to come. So much so, that when a customer unsubtly implied that my price on an item of trench art was too high, I unsubtly replied that I could get the same price on the same item any day of the week, before taking a swift cigarette break.

I was a little abrupt, and I should not have been, so I publicly apologize to that customer here, although I am sure he does not read this blog. However, this gives me the opportunity to state how I come to the prices that I put on items.

There are a couple of pricing systems that I have. One is quite straight forward, as with the Elephants foot: The supplier wanted £500 returned to him on the item. My research on the internet showed one selling at a London Auction House at £1500 in 2010 which was not in the same good condition. We priced it at £750, a mark up price of only £250. Of that £250 we get 25%, or £62.40 shared between two of us, or £31.20 each. This may seem a good return on an item that we have not paid for, however, the rent of a stall is between £35 and £55, Parking costs £12 and then there are the running costs of the car, the storage and transportation of the item up and down a flight of stairs at 4.30am and back up at 8pm. 15 hours a day on your feet, and the effort in trying to sell the item for the same amount of time. 

The trench art, and other items belonging to my partner and myself, we have sourced in France. Contrary to popular belief, this is hard work. Here is the Itinerary for our last trip:

Friday: 11:30pm picked up from work (not having eaten all day) straight into the car travel to Dover.

Saturday: 5am get up, cup of tea, into the car. Check in 6am, Sail 7am. Disembark 10am.

Drive direct to first of 5 markets on our way to the Lille Braderie where we arrived at 7pm. Sandwich and cup of tea (our first food of the day) negotiate the literally miles of stalls and come away empty handed at 10.30pm to sleep in the car over night. 

Sunday: on the road by 6am, nothing to eat or drink. Visit 3 markets in the first 4 hours before we get a cup of tea. No items bought. Visit 5 more markets, catching the last one as it was closing at 7pm 100 miles from Lille. Sandwich (first food of the day) and a glass of beer before travelling directly to Dunkirk, check in at a cheap Etap Hotel approx 10pm before searching for somewhere open for food.

Monday: Sail from Calais to Dover, drive from Dover to London and unpack the car when we arrive.

Why I point this out, is that when an item is bought for 15 Euros on a family holiday, it bears no resemblance to the price of a similar item when it appears on my stall because it was not bought on holiday, but on a 3 day working trip, with the subsequent costs of it appearing on a stall for however long it takes to sell. It also has to reflect the days when we walk away from a market without making a penny, and, in fact, making a financial loss.

Our take home on Thursday was £37 between two of us on sales of approximately £700, so, although we love the banter of bargaining and the game of 'Best Price', when you are told at a stall that 'that is less than I paid for it,' the price paid for an item can be only a small part of the real cost to the trader.

One of the other parts of this trade that I love, is to take something that no one else would look at, cleaning, repairing and bringing an item 'back to life.' This can entail many hours of hard work and a lot of vision! lol

I spent Wednesday evening with my Antique Dealer and Proprietress, Dee, restringing a beautiful old Chandelier for her. This part of the really creative aspect to being a dealer for me, and so satisfying once it is finished.

My latest personal project is an old silver trunk that I bought off another dealer. It had only just arrived in his shop and looked a real mess. After many hours of cleaning and polishing (still not complete) it is beginning to really come back to life and has a great story to tell. It belonged to Lt General, His Highness, The Maharaja of Jaipur! My research has unearthed the fact that he was the last reigning Maharaja of Jaipur and the First Indian Ambassador to Spain. It is covered in labels that cover both stories, and on one of the metal straps that bind it, is a smudge of pink paint that I have carefully preserved. Watch this space and I will upload photographs when the task is complete.

Having spent the weekend with family, and rushing home with the impending 'Great Storm' looming over us, it was with relief that the weather forecast at Midnight placed the storm just outside London by 5am. Although still blustery, the heaviest of the rain had passed us however half of the traders could not make the market, leaving poor 'Mike the Market' looking rather worried. It is not just the traders that take risks with markets, it is also a financial liability for the organisers who rely on the rents paid for 'pitches' to put food on the table.

To add to the gloom of a half empty market, the tail end of the storm and a windswept hall, the sound of breaking glass was not just from the stocks of crockery being blown off stalls, but from a piece of scaffolding crashing through the roof! A bad omen for the day?

Due to the lack of traders, we were given extra space to move our stock on to, and I hope we did it justice. Our illuminated glass display cabinet has become a bit of a trademark for the stall, but I thought that it was time for a bit of a change, so placed candlesticks that I have been polishing (out of boredom! lol) for the last few weeks into it and put the trench art shell casings onto the table. 

This seems to have been a good move, as it got a lot more attention than previously, and gave many a father the opportunity to explain their significance to awestruck children. It also gave the ability for people, not only to see, but to feel more confident to pick them up and examine them more closely.

The trench art is my pride and joy, and I have spent many hours researching each and every piece. These are artefacts that make me quite humble in the face of them, and am reminded of the biblical entreaty of 'Turning Swords into Ploughshares,' which is, in fact, the name of my other blog:  http://trenchartswordsintoploughshares.blogspot.co.uk/

One person was particularly interested in a beautiful piece picked up on my last trip to France, in fact, it was the last thing that I bought at the last market the we went to (as described above). Having spent about an hour discussing trench art in general and the piece in particular, she told us that she would see if she could get any more money out of the bank to buy it at the agreed price. A little while later she returned very disappointed, and having bought a pair of insignificant WWII undecorated German Anti Aircraft shells, she admitted that the ATM said 'NO!', and that all she had was Dollars. 'Make me an offer.' 'I really would not want to insult you or your beautiful collection.' Laughingly, I told her that 'Offering cash is never insulting when offered with a true heart.' Dollars exchanged, a happy tourist will be smiling all the way back to 'The States,' and will call to see us on her next visit to her friend in London.

This was the second time that we have taken foreign currency, the first being earlier in the day, and my partner had guessed the exchange rate almost to the penny! This is a service that we will develop in the future to make life easier for our customers, and let them know exactly how much they are spending.

After all of the doom and gloom of the morning, Monday turned out to be not a bad day, and, as ever, we got to meet some of the most lovely people, some who were just interested in the stock rather than interested in buying it, but it passes the day, because it is not all just about selling.

Having said that, the last sale of the day was a 1950's radio bought for £29.99 which sold for £23. At least it frees up some cash to buy new stock and refresh the stall! lol

**********UPDATE**********

1. Smartie, the Harriet Houdini of the hamster world has been returned home after a 3 day holiday in the bedroom!!

2. When I checked my e-mail last night, I found this waiting for me (Check my previous posting to see the context):

Yesterday at the Royal Hospital Chelsea I was given a bound copy of our 1915 Regimental Journal that I believe had been found and passed on by you and I am writing to thank you very much for such a thoughtful and generous gesture, I am most grateful.

The specific copy was dedicated to Pte King who died when the Royal Edward was sunk on its way to Gallipoli in 1915 along with over 200 other reinforcements from the Hampshire Regiment.   Copies of the WW1 Journals are most useful as we do not have many spare copies and we receive over a dozen requests for information about relatives from the public for that war, this Regimental having had over 8,000 killed.

Thank you once again.

With best wishes

Colin Bulleid

Lt Col Colin Bulleid

Secretary

The Royal Hampshire Regiment Trust

Serle's House

Southgate Street

Winchester

Hampshire  SO23 9EG

Let Down by George IV in Chiswick, but Promises Kept Thanks to Chelsea Pensioners at Covent Garden (After An Ambush by The Ninja Nanny)

Sunday was a wet and miserable day in Chiswick Antiques Fair in the George IV pub in Chiswick. So much so that the back courtyard was flooded during a particularly heavy thunder storm.

Poor 'Steve The Market' had hurt his back the night before, so it was left to his wife Suzie and Justin to organise us all (not an easy task first thing on a Sunday Morning)!

Being open from 11am, it was probably more like 12.30pm before the first tentative customer walked in. A brief walk around the room and back out to the bar again, hardly stopping to catch a breath, let alone a look at any of the stalls! You would imagine that we were all growling at them from behind our respective stockpiles!! lol

The manic antics of 'Steve The Market' were sadly missed to entertain us. The venue we use is usually a comedy venue, and I think Steve sees himself as an undiscovered comedic tallent. It usually works, bringing in customers and making them smile and relax while browsing.

Having just been given a huge stock of Victorian and Georgian candlesticks to sell, we thought that we were on to a winner on such a dark and dismal day, and the anouncement that Utility Bills are to increase (AGAIN!) before winter with a threat of blackouts in prospect. Surely we could move some of them on?

We did manage to get rid of two pairs mid afternoon, and a heavily discounted Afghan Rug much later. After paying the provider of said items and for our stall, a negative balance ended our day a little depressingly!

Monday morning at 4.30 is not my natural environment! However there was a little hope that we might recoup the losses of the previous day.

Things started well with the sale of 5 sets of 1920's/1930s doorhandles and a Palais Royale Picture Frame within the first few minutes to another trader!

As we continued to set up the stall, installing all of the electrical items that give us light and a presence at the various venues, there was suddenly an almighty explosion! While trying to manouver the Itlian Chandalier, it hit the Eddison Squirel Cage light bulb on one of the electrical insulator lamps, shattering it, and blowing the main fuse, showering glass all over!! Was this an omen for the day?

A little later, a little old lady of probably 80+ years young, shuffled toward us on her zimmer frame. I spent a pleasant few minutes explaining my Trench Art Collection, lulling me into a false, smug, sence of security. Within seconds I was charmingly ambushed by this Ninja Pensioner. Talk about velvet gloves and a cast iron fist!! "how much is your Verdun Letter Opener?" "£10 love." (What I had paid for it plus a £1 profit for my efforts of sourcing and bringing it back from the Paris Markets). Anyone else, I had been quoting £15 for the same item, but I felt sorry for the poor old soul on such a cold and miserable morning. "The tip is bent back. I'll give you £7 or nothing." The Viet Cong would have been proud of such a vicious and incisive ambush on a weak and feeble opponent! Crushed, I caved in to her demand and even wrapped it in bubble-wrap and put it into a bag for her!! I will be older and wiser the next time that I meet the Ninja Nanny!!!

As at other Markets over the last few weeks, all of the traders have been having a bad time. Trade is slow and the buyers not buying. It was another slow day, but, as ever it is really nice taking time chatting to other traders and the customers that are interested in particular items. My mother was fond of the addage that 'the Devil makes work for idle hands, so plenty of time was utilised polishing candlesticks and Trench Art! lol

The large slab of Jade was of particular interest to customers this week. We have had it at about three or four sales and hardly got a notice. Yesterday though, it seemed that almost everyone wanted to know about it.

All that I know is that it was collected in Hong Kong in the 1950's. The form reminds me of a fishing weight or anchor, however, we have been given a few alternatives. One gentleman suggested that it was a funerary offering, and yet another, a head rest. Someone has also suggested that it might be from New Zeland rather than Chineese because of the colour, but I have absolutely no idea. If any of the readers of this blog have any further suggestions, please feel free to comment as it is a facinating piece, and beautifully tactile.

You might imagine though, there was no sale of the slab of Jade to give us 'a little tickle,' (as my friend Dee says when she makes a really nice profit).

The last time that we were in France, we picked up a bundle of French Metis Linen. This has given us 'a nice little tickle' over the last few months, and the best sale of the day was our penultimate linen sheet. It went a long way toward paying for the stall, and coupled with a few more small sales, left us with a tiny profit after paying for the parking too.

During the late afternoon, feeling like I was watching paint dry, a rather colourful pair of gentlemen approached the stall. Clad in the scarlet black and gold of the Royal Hopital Chelsea, (http://www.chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/) they browsed the stock, taking particular note of a book that I have used for display purposes only. (There is a long story about how I aquired this document, and why took the subsequent actions that I am about to explain. If you are interested in the document and back story, you can read it on my other blog at: http://trenchartswordsintoploughshares.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/one-from-collection-in-memoriam-pt.html)

The book itself is the Hampshire Regimental Journal of 1915 with a memorial inscription on the internal flyleaf.

"I really like that, but I'm afraid to ask how much as I'm sure I can't afford it. It would be nice to have it at chapel on Sunday when we meet 'The Hampshires'."

"Excuse me gentlemen, I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. Are you meeting with the Royal Hampshires on Sunday?" The response was in the affirmative. "I was wondering if you might do me a favour?" "If we can, young man." "I need to get 'The Journal' to 'The Hampshires' for their Regimental Museum or Archive, and I was wondering if you might pass it on for me?"

Well, I thought that they were going to fall through the floor! lol These were the most charming men that you could have met, full of fun and the joy of life. Teasing eachother while they chatted with me, I spent the most pleasant few minutes with them, and with a parting handshake, they invited me to their service on Sunday at the Royal Hospital on Sunday at 11am with Parade at 10.40am in the courtyard. 

Having agreed to try to make it, I now realise that I am double booked, so will not be able to attend, so I make a public apology here for my non attendance to Hussar Bill (Paddy) Fox BEM, (Chelsea Pensioner Chief Tour Guide) and to his camrade Sapper John Denton of the Royal Engineers. I salute you gentlemen for your service to the country, for helping me to keep my promise to return the Journal to the Hampshires, and for making my day.

Sometimes it is not about the financial reward of work, but the human contacts that enrich your life. 

Friendships and Photoshoots at Old Spitalfields Thursday Market

The normal proceedure for getting a market stall has been to ring up 'Mike the Market' the day before to book a pitch. What we did not realise is that for Old Spitalfields, we have to ring first thing on Wednesday morning to be in with a chance of getting one.

The Disappointment when 'Mike the Market' told me this information was gut wrenching! However, a ray of hope was on the horizon when he said that should there be a calculation he would let us know. I let him know that should he have to ring in the early hours of the morning, there was no problem, 'Just give us an hour notice and I'll be there!!'

As the evening drew on distraction lead to dispair, lead to the Off Licence for a 6 pack of beer to drown my sorrows.

Having fallen asleep on the couch with can of lager still in hand, I was rudely awoken by my mobile phone at about 4.30am. Under normal circumstances, my first thought would be 'Who's dead?!' however my fuzzy head could only register 'Shut that bloody noise up!' lol

Isn't it strange how awake you can become very quickly at certain information being imparted? We had a stall for Spitalfields that day due to a late cancellation. Thank the heavens!!

After a half an hour nap in the comfort of my bed, and still blurry eyed, cup of tea and cigarette in hand the car was somehow packed and we were soon on the almost empty road to Spitalfields. 

Due to the iniquitous tax called the 'Congestion Charge' (Which more often than not charges you to sit for hours in endless queues of traffic), we have to unload and wait for about an hour an half for the market to open so as to not pay the £10 daily rate. There is an advantage to this though, as it gives time to sit in 'The Daily Grind Cafe,' (what an appropriate name) and top up with my 'Blackpool Breakfast' of a gallon of sweet black tea and a pack of cigarettes!! It gives that little oasis of calm before the hard work begins.

The day was slow, and at times it was like watching paint dry! I was spending more on cups of tea than we were taking over the stall (that had to be done though to rehydrate from the night before, lol).

Around midday, a familiar face approached with a big grin. The charming young man who had left the deposit on the stained glass portrait of Pope St Pius X (as mentioned in a previous posting) had returned, money burning a hole in his pocket!! A pleasant half our was spent chatting, and teasing him with the prospect of the arrival of more stained glass pieces. He is now addicted to the charm and glory of that beautiful ancient art!

The afternoon rush never really materialised and there were a few dishartened stall holders, however there were a steady trickle of browsers and buyers that made the time pass.

Of particular note among these were a lovely young couple who showed interest in my 18th Century Oriental Ginger Jars. Two in particular had really peaqued their interest, my one and only Chineese Blue and White, and a really nice Korean one.

After plenty of picking up and putting down, snippets of intreaguing conversation reached as far as my side of the stall. After the deal was done and the jar wrapped and packed (they chose the Chineese Blue and White), I just had to ask!

'Excuse me, I hope you don't mind me asking, but I heard you mention a shoot?'

To my surprise and delight, they were looking for props for an Alexander McQueen photoshoot, and my little Chineese Blue and White Ginger Jar, might be one of those said props being used! I was over the moon, and charmed by them as they wandered off and continued browsing among the other stalls. For the fasionistas among you out there in the ether of the online world, if you come across an Alexander McQueen photograph with a Chineese Blue and White Ginger Jar in it, please let me know, and it will really make my day!

As I have said before, you get to meet some lovely people while working the markets, and usually they are strangers, or regulars that you get to recognise over the days and weeks. For the first time yesterday though, two of my friends made unexpected visits.

The first of these was the delightful and tallented Delores (aka 'Bunny') De Sade whom I have known since taking a Fine Art Degree a few years ago. She was hanging an exhibition in Truemans Brewery off Brick lane in Whitechapel, and decided to take a break and come and visit us and see what we are up to. She also gave us an invitation to here Private View that evening, however we would not be able to attend as by the time we had taken the stock home, we would not be able to get back to the East End before the exhibition closed. Not being too sad, we are able to attend on Saturday, and I will let you know next week how it went!

For those among you that are interested in Contemporary Fine Art, here is a link to Bunny's website:

 http://www.doloresdesade.com/

Another of my friends from University arrived just as we were packing up. The ever mischievous and tallented Trevor Banthorpe!

Trev was on his way to Bunny's Private view, and as he was passing Spitalfields, remembered that we were there and decided to come and see us. Trev was in the same year as me at Uni, and was one of the real star tallents among a very tallented bunch of individuals. As I do not currently have a studio, he has offered me the loan of his when I need it. I have not been able to take up his kind offer yet as I have just been so busy, however, I intend to etch blank WWI shell casings as commemorative pieces of the 1914-18 conflict.

It was great to see Trevor and quickly catch up with him. He is off to Tokyo soon to take part in an exhibition there, that I got to view here in London a few months ago. His tallents never surprise me, however it was one of the best Exhibitions of Contemporary Printmaking that I think I have seen!

Here is a link to Trevor's website for your delectation!

 http://www.trevorbanthorpe.com/Trevor_Banthorpe/Welcome.html

Good Luck to Bunny for her present exhibition, and to Trevor for his upcomming Tokyo Exhibition!

As the day drew to a close, we packed the car and headed off into the traffic queues of the London evening contented at a good days work.

Our next outing is at The George IV pub in Chiswick this comming Sunday, from 11am until 5pm, followed by Covent Garden on Monday from 5am until 5pm. Come along and see us if you are in the area.