Royal Gazette: BNT jumble sale and auction braces for 2,000 treasure hunters
A Georgian mantelpiece clock, antique Bermuda silver and a commode are just a few of the treasures up for grabs in the annual Bermuda National Trust Jumble Sale and Auction, which opens today at the Botanical Gardens.
Dörte Horsfield, the trust’s head of development and engagement, expects at least 2,000 people to pass through the Jack King Building and Commercial Slat House over the next three days.
The Jumble Sale and auction preview is today from 8.30am to 6.30pm and tomorrow from 8.30am to 2pm. The auction begins at 10am on Saturday.
Prices for items range from 25 cents for a mug, cup or book, to $50 for electronics, to thousands of dollars for antique furniture, china or silver. Everything has been donated by the community.
“This is the biggest repurposing event on the island,” Dr Horsfield said. “People drop off items they no longer need. Often they come back to the sale the next day and take home just as many items as they dropped off.”
A range of experts — from historian and writer John Cox to auctioneer Dana Casling — carefully examined all donations to sort the fun from the pricey.
Volunteers such as Robert Clubbe and James Decker help out every year. Originally from Canada, they winter in Bermuda.
They were part of a team of more than 50 volunteers cleaning, arranging, researching, pricing and tagging.
The night before the sale, Dr Horsfield anticipated a line of 100 people outside when the doors open this morning at 8am.