Stuart Triggol celebrates a remarkable 50 years with Greenslade Taylor Hunt today (Monday, October 27).
The veteran of the saleroom began his career helping out at a country house sale at West Bagborough in the school holidays of Easter 1974.
“It was my first foray into antiques,” explained Stuart, who joined WRJ Greenslade & Co in October 1975.
He had already formed connections with the firm, growing up in a farming family, while his sister, Dolly also worked for the company.
In the 1970s the firm had two offices and ran the livestock markets at Taunton and Bridgwater – very different from today’s organisation which now has a network of 17 branches across Somerset, Devon and Dorset.
There was no antiques saleroom instead sales were conducted on site – everywhere from grand country houses to unremarkable terraced properties. Stuart also helped out at all types of agricultural sales too.
In the late 1970s The Priory Saleroom was opened and antiques auctions were conducted there, while general sales were then held at the rugby clubhouse in Taunton every three weeks.
The firm merged with FL Hunt & Sons in the ‘90s and the antiques department moved to Magdalene House in Church Square, Taunton, in 1992.
A career highlight for Stuart was the sale of the Joy Barnes Collection. He was on the rostrum when the hammer came down at £325,000 for a Barbara Hepworth sculpture – the highest individual price ever achieved at a Greenslade Taylor Hunt antiques sale.
He also enjoyed the big country house sales such as those at Gerbestone Manor, West Buckland, near Wellington, and Uphill Manor at Weston-super-Mare.
Uphill featured a number of Pugin rooms – the famed architect behind the design of the Palace of Westminster. Indeed, a number of the sale lots were snapped up by the palace for the parliamentary buildings.
Then the only way to attend a sale was to be there in person, now people can enjoy the thrill of the saleroom from the comfort of their own homes. Online bidding allows would-be buyers to join the auction from anywhere in the world.
More recently the antiques department had premises at the Octagon in East Reach, Taunton, before moving to its current base at Junction 24, Sedgemoor Auction Centre, North Petherton.
Stuart enjoys the camaraderie of the saleroom and the opportunity to unearth unexpected finds on house calls.
Now working part-time as a consultant valuer Stuart has more time for his involvement in a number of hobbies. He is Chairman of Cheddon Fitzpaine Flower Show and a regular participant in drama productions by The Cheddoners
He enjoys the countryside and walking with his Fox Red Labrador Retriever, Benson, and attending horse trials.
Picture caption:
Veteran antiques auctioneer Stuart Triggol who celebrates 50 years as an auctionner.