Tile on the pounds

I’M blaming a virulent mutation of the ‘must buy something’ virus crossed with tedious COVID-19 ‘lockdownitis’ for two recent breaches of the canny antique buyer’s Golden Rules. Last month it was a William Evans 12-bore boxlock ejector (see Anatomy of an Auction, January issue). “WTF!” exploded my ‘weapons’ expert, Nick, when I confessed to being the under bidder on it, sight unseen (adios Rule 1). Last week I went one worse. I not only bought ‘sight unseen’ but trashed Rule Two: avoid damaged goods; buy perfection as that is what collectors – whether of guns, glass or Beanie Babies – will always pay top dollar for. Instead, I bought three different, stuck together, circa 1580, Iznik tile ‘fragments’. Largish fragments, but broken bits all the same.

“Yer what?” I hear coming from the back of the class, whilst even front row swots might be looking a tad confused. Think Turkey. Holidays there will almost invariably involve visiting