Cooper Brouard was delighted to sponsor the inaugural Les Bourgs Hospice Treasure Trove Auction, which took place on Saturday 23rd September 2023. The auction attracted a multitude of enthusiastic bidders and raising an incredible £8,000 for Les Bourgs Hospice.
Launched in the spring, Les Bourgs Hospice invited islanders to donate their unwanted treasures in aid of the charity. An array of exceptional items was subsequently collected and we were both delighted and astounded by the quality and diverse range of the items submitted, not to mention the incredible generosity once again shown by our amazing island community.
From Hermes™ scarves to luxury watches, exquisite ceramics to limited-edition prints, the auction quickly attracted 150 luxury and aspirational lots. Alongside the designer and well-known brands, were some exciting, eclectic and intriguing collectables, ranging from coins and stamps to vintage jewellery and Lego sets.
The auction was a truly collaborative venture, and we were delighted to have enlisted the services of Chris George who gave his time free of charge. Chris diligently worked through the photography of 150 items on one of the hottest days of the year, to produce images that formed the basis of our catalogue, before the trove was locked away in readiness for Auction Day and we were extremely grateful for his contribution.
Les Cotils also provided their Harry Bound Room without charge and with an excellent turn out. From 9am, the room was quickly filled with enthusiastic bidders keen to see the lots on offer. At 10am with commission bids in place and telephone and on-site bidders poised and ready to bid, the room was alive with excitement and expectation, as Trevor Cooper got ready to wield his auctioneer’s gavel.
The Bailiwick of Guernsey holds a very special place in our hearts and we’re committed to our community and environment to enhance where we live. We’re delighted to support community initiatives like the Treasure Trove Auction and are grateful to everyone who contributed, as their huge support made it such a fantastic success.
The auction quickly got into full swing, with multiple bids being received on the lots. The Hermes™ scarves perhaps not surprisingly, gained a significant amount of interest and were sold to an ecstatic bidder. However, it was a hand-carved 1944 German wooden bowl which spiked particular and unexpected interest. The bowl had been listed with a guide price of up to £60 but ended up selling for an incredible £780!
Members of the Cooper Brouard team did not miss out on bidding on some exceptional items. Ben was delighted with his 1969 Omega Genève 18ct. gold watch which will form part of his fledgling collection of designer time pieces, whilst his father surprised his over-joyed mum with a unique and beautiful piece of antique jewellery. Meanwhile, Matt secured some very special and handsome teddy bears for his delighted grandchildren.
Overall, the Treasure Trove Auction proved to be a huge success with each successful bid going directly to the Hospice. The £8,000 raised by this very special auction, will make a significant and important contribution to its work and is one of many lifelines for the staff and service users at Les Bourgs Hospice – it’s significance to all involved is immeasurable.
The funds raised help to support the incredible services supplied by the dedicated team that commit their time and experience to the care of islanders who need it most. Funds raised for the registered charity are used solely in providing hospice care and maintaining the facilities. Les Bourgs Hospice does not receive any States’ funding and needs to raise over £1.6 million per annum to continue to offer care to patients with life limiting disease and support their families.