Bids, beauty and Bermudian cedar at National Trust jumble sale

There are hundreds of items listed in the catalogue.

There is a regency window bench. There are five topless decanters. There is a mahogany Chippendale mirror. There is a miniature caned child’s teak chair that comes with a teddy bear. There is a pair of brass dolphin fire irons with a brass umbrella stand that has a Russian crest.

All of the above are to be auctioned off as part of the Bermuda National Trust’s jumble sale. The proceeds of the auction will benefit the trust, which is a charity that preserves natural, architectural and historic treasures on the island.

On Saturday afternoon, about 70 people crowded into the Jack King Building in the Botanical Gardens to bid, or at least contemplate bidding on the various items.

The crowd is older. Some jot down notes on the catalogue. Some stare blankly ahead. Others examine the items closely as men in polo shirts walk up and down a centre aisle. Saturday marked the final day of the sale’s three-day run; it was not immediately clear how much money was raised for the trust.

Bidding…

An antique sterling teapot is labeled fabulous; “truly the bargain of the day” says an auctioneer. The trust hadn’t realized it was silver until someone had polished it up; it used to be dirty and blackened but now, says one auctioneer “You can take it to London and sell it for $3,000.”

A kitchen pot is auctioned off in a raspy staccato. The prices escalate fast and furiously: $460,$480,$500, $520…

A crystal vase is the only thing that keeps a candle going in the wind,  an auctioneer tells us.

The superlatives pile on top of each other; one item is described as a “beautiful, beautiful piece.”

“Quintessential”

Then there is the cedar chest. It is an antique. It is unique and Bermudian.

Before the bidding begins, one of the auctioneers, whose voice sounds shot, praises the cedar chest. The back of the crowd can’t hear her, though. She has to repeat: she values the cedar chest at $25,000. The way the wood dovetails, apparently, is unusual. It’s intricate and in perfect shape, we’re told. The wideness of the cedar boards are praised. There’s only two boards on one section of the chest. Apparently, this is a good thing.

The bidding war lasts for several minutes. Someone walks away with it for more than $8,000.

“Iconic,” murmurs someone in the back of the crowd.

Another offers their assessment: “Quintessential. Such an expensive word.”