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LAST OF THE YEAR
The final sale
of the old year was perhaps one of the most varied with a large
consignment sent from Newark Park, the National Trust property
close to Wotton-under-Edge. Also a particularly interesting and
diverse collection was sold on behalf of a Cheltenham estate
(with more to follow in January), together with other entries
sent in from all over the district, making this the most
interesting of auctions.
So where to
start? Perhaps with the earliest, in this case, a roman marble
cinerary urn with moulded detail and script. It lacked it’s
original cover and sold at £550. A good collection of 19th
century and later military helmets including an 1850’s French
Dragoons, Enniskillen Dragoons, Prussian Pickelhaube, Surrey
regiment and Dragoon Guards examples sold for a total of around
£2,600, whilst a Coldstream Guards drum made £340 and a rare
Pritchard-Greener revolver bayonet sold for £700.
Silverware,
although back a little on previous sales, still sold well with 104
ounces of continental standard flatware selling at £1,180, a
silver hunting horn together with a copper example made £490, and
a George III silver teapot weighing 28 ounces at £400. A
Britannia standard tankard (14 ounces) sold for £320 and an 18
ounce bowl realised £530.
Amongst the
furniture £3,400 was taken from a Chinese buyer for a good 19th
century Chinese hardwood display cabinet. The best of the
longcases saw £900 paid for a thirty hour example with a 9 inch
square brass dial. A pair of Victorian armchairs in tired and
worn maroon leather sold at £1,700.
An interesting
collection of ivory included a Meijing period Japanese carving of
four rats in a fruit basket at £980 and a well carved Chinese card
case at £750.
Amongst the
watches a World War II German aviators watch realised £1,600,
followed by a Breitling Top Time gents wristwatch at £460.
The best of the
glassware included £580 for an extensive collection including 19th
century decanters, mixed drinking glasses, etc, while a pair of
Victorian cranberry lustres made £520.
Small items of
interest included a Berlin porcelain panel – The Deposition from
the Cross at £840, whilst a 9ct gold charm bracelet (51 grams)
sold at £520. Two Japanese fans realised £320, a bronze fox sold
for £400, an oil painting of the racehorse Ormond by Wheeler made
£550, a charming oil study of a donkey and terrier by Henry
Garland made £680, while a 16th century style coastal
scene by Arthur David McCormick made £880. The best of the books
included a run of 46 volumes of Pevsner’s Buildings of England
series at £560.
As for next year,
the saleroom is already filling for the first sale of the year on
January 24th & 25th. Specialist quarterly
sales of jewellery are to become a feature, with the first to be
conducted on March 20th.
Instructions have
been received to dispose of three libraries of books on behalf of
deceased estates and will include fine leather bindings,
antiquarian sets, Bristol related history, natural history and
botany and will probably total over 350 lots, a special sale and
viewing will be organised during March with further details in due
course.
In January we
welcome Joss Whittaker who will be mentored by Julia Fry. Julia
will continue to catalogue the picture section at each sale but
will otherwise be semi-retiring in order to pursue other interests
after 21 years at the saleroom. 2010 has proved to be a
successful and varied year at the saleroom with a number of
changes and new innovations. Next year will almost certainly
bring more of the same but we will endeavour to continue the broad
mix of sales which is so popular with buyers and sellers alike.
Finally Philip
and his team would like to wish everyone who contributes to the
sales, either by buying or selling, a very Happy Christmas and
Prosperous New Year
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