I was contacted by a client a couple of weeks back.

He said: "Philip, have you heard of XXXXX?" (a piece of well-known 1970s porcelain which due to client confidentiality I shall keep discreet and avoid being sued).

I had indeed heard of the object in question and advised that they normally make between £300-500.

"Damn!" came the reply. "I bought six of them for a thousand pounds each as an investment. I never liked them or even look at them so they can stop in the roof till they show me a profit."

I'm afraid I couldn't help but summon a wry smile. I think that anybody who buys antiques solely for investment deserves to take what fluctuations the market has to offer.

And trust me, over the last five years there have been plenty of fluctuations, and, more importantly, changes in taste which inevitably mean changes in price.

I know I keep harking back to it, but the moral is buy what you like not necessarily what you think will perform against stocks and shares - leave that to the money men.