I wandered into one of Worcester's riverside houses that had to be cleared after a death in the family this week. In the corner of the main reception room were a pair of 1950s style wire chairs.

Ten years ago I would have simply dismissed them as nothing and just walked past them. Today? Well, luckily I spotted them as being designed by a man called Ernest Race and worth several hundred pounds.

Twentieth century design is certainly very desirable and has a following. Indeed, the rather child-like watercolour by Mary Fedden pictured below was bought new for about £160 towards the end of the 20th century. In my March Fine Art sale this painting realised £2,800 - in my opinion, better than money in a savings account and one has the pleasure of a work of art hanging on the wall to enjoy.

l I'm often asked: "Have you ever broken anything?" I'm afraid the answer is, yes - if you handle as many items as I do an incident or two happens sooner or later. I think my crowning moment came when I was unpacking a Royal Worcester limited edition model of a Hereford bull by Doris Lindner. They are normally packed in pre-formed foam in special boxes.

I say normally because this one wasn't. Its farmer owner delivered it to the saleroom carefully wrapped in old newspaper in a tomato box.

Trouble was, it had all got a bit twisted up and as hard as I tried to be careful I heard that audible twang' as a fragile piece of porcelain had broken away.

To my horror I had managed to castrate the noble Hereford bull. I was mortified. There was nothing I could do to rectify the problem other than to telephone the vendor and tell them of my calamity and offer to pay them the value of the beast.