RASE to auction off book and silverware collection

The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) has put its art, book and silverware collection – estimated to be worth between £200,000 and £300,000 – up for auction.

The collection, which amounts to more than 300 lots, includes historic paintings, medals, clocks, books and some of the silver trophies that were used at Royal Show until it ended in 2009.

David Gardner, RASE chief executive, said the decision to put the collection up for sale had not been an easy one.

However, the organisation felt the money tied up in the items could be better used.

“The sale will allow the RASE to completely clear its legacy debts, the most significant of which is a deficit associated with a defined benefit pension scheme for past employees, and it will allow the society to pursue its new agenda unhindered by the past,” he told Farmers Weekly.

“I suppose we no longer have a need for it, it costs us to keep it in terms of insurance and we can use the money elsewhere,” he added.

The collection will be auctioned off by Dreweatts and Bloomsbury in London on 11 July. Until then potential buyers can make bids through an online auction system .

The most expensive lot is a Sir Walter Gibley collection of 18th- and 19th-century pamphlets on agricultural, economic and social matters, which is guided at £15,000-20,000.

Artworks include a double portrait of Simmental cattle guided at £500-700 and a picture called the “Durham Ox” by John Whessell for £400-600.

There is an extensive collection of silverware up for grabs ranging from about £100-600.

The RASE has suffered a difficult few years since the demise of the Royal Show, which led to a decline in membership numbers.

While its technical shows such as Grassland & Muck and the Pig & Poultry Fair have continued to thrive, the organisation has been looking to redefine its wider role.

Since his appointment, Mr Gardner has been open in wanting to take the organisation back to its roots of helping farmers innovate and improve knowledge transfer .

In November 2013, plans were unveiled for the RASE to work with agricultural show societies around the country to deliver an extension service that offers technical support and advice to farmers and helps speed up adoption of new technology and best practice.

It is hoped the scheme, which is called Innovation in Agriculture, will be running by the end of 2014.