Exclusive: Antiques DownUnder hosts on unearthing Australia's most curious antiques and collectibles
Everyone loves the story behind an interesting old item.
The intriguing stories behind some of the rare treasures and curious collectables found throughout Australia are revealed when Antiques DownUnder premieres on Friday September 30 at 7.30pm on 9Gem and 9Now.
In this new 10-part series, antiques dealer Gregory Bickford and collector Claudia Chan Shaw visit incredible and quirky collections around the country. From private collections, historic homes and backyard sheds to the best museums and galleries, they'll be talking to the experts, the custodians, and the passionate collectors.
READ MORE: Here is every show that's coming to Stan in October 2022
"Australia's story in a unique way, is intertwined with the stories of antiques and collectibles. Every item in the house has a story, why it was invented. How long ago it was? How long ago was it made and is it still being used today," Bickford explained in an interview with 9Entertainment.
Claudia Chan Shaw and Gregory Bickford are the hosts of Antiques DownUnder. Nine
"With Antiques DownUnder, we've made some incredible discoveries and met some interesting people with some incredible collections".
Bickford is an antiques expert inspired especially by Australian history.
His own collections include an eclectic mix of early Australian and European works, French porcelain dating from the 1750s, as well as prized Russian and German pieces.
Gregory Bickford has quite the collection of his own antiques. Nine
As an antiques dealer for 40 years, Bickford gains access to amazing rarities and makes some fascinating discoveries, many of which form the stories seen in the show.
Joining Bickford as Antiques DownUnder host is collector Claudia Chan Shaw.
Shaw has an obsession for tin toys and robots firmly planted in the 20th century. Her quirky collection includes Japanese pieces from the 1950s, wind-up tin animals and mechanical acrobats.
She puts her fixation on robots and space toys down to watching Lost in Space on TV as a child.
"If you walk into our house, it's the house of crazy people, but it's well ordered in that everything's in glass cases with lighting," Shaw said.
Claudia Chan Shaw with her robot and space toy collection. Nine
"So the main things, wind-up tin toys and with a specialisation in robots and space toys, mainly Japanese, 1950s, '60s, '70s, a lot of stuff to do with popular culture.
"So you might have Astro Boy or the robots from Forbidden Planet or the robot from Lost in Space, and that's sort of a throwback to growing up and watching too much TV and just wanting to recapture great memories through these toys."
Shaw is well aware that many people out there might confuse the new Antiques DownUnder with a local version of Antiques Roadshow, but the shows are inherently different.
"People keep saying, 'Oh, it's an Australian version of Antiques Roads Show', but no, it's not," she said.
"We don't go around the country valuing things.
"It's more about visiting institutional collections, backyard sheds, people who have got interesting objects in their own home and sharing the history and stories of the collector."
READ MORE: Breast-obsessed woman turns down the Botched doctors after being told she needs to downsize
Bickford is excited for audiences to see a unique aspect of Antiques DownUnder.
"Part of the story with antiques and collectibles is that we're recycling. We're stopping, people are collecting things and that's not going into landfill," he said.
"And I think the younger generation is starting to realise that as well. Mum and dad's dining room table lasted them all their married lives. We've just bought one and now, but two years later, we're taking it to the tip."
For Shaw, she's excited for people to see the some of the antiques and collectibles featured in the series.
Australia's largest antique Barbie collection features on Antiques DownUnder. Nine
The first episode features Catherine the Great's chair, and in a few weeks, the team visit Penfold's winery to discover how it became a world-wide wine brand as well as uncover the largest Aussie Barbie collection.
"While all of the items are not necessarily Australian items, there're objects that have made their way here and Australians have gathered them for whatever their personal reason is, whether it's to preserve history, whether it's a personal interest," Bickford added.
"So everybody's got their own reason for what they go for. Everything links back to what Australians like and what they love."
Antiques DownUnder premieres on Friday September 30 at 7.30pm on 9Gem and 9Now.
