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CHARITY IS REWARDED
In the early 1950’s a young
child in the district was given for Christmas, Whitsun & Easter,
copies of C S Lewis’s Narnia books. The Silver Chair, The Horse
& His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew & The Last Battle. Each book
at the time cost around ten shillings. Were they read and
enjoyed? Well, its difficult to say, what we do know is that
they were all first editions and more importantly had retained
their original dust wrappers. Earlier this year they surfaced
at the Break Charity shop in Stonehouse, the manageress Linda
Clements would often see the potential of items brought through
their doors and the Wotton Auction Rooms were called in to give
an opinion. This month’s offering included Art Deco china,
silver jewellery and the four books. The books sold as one lot
causing great excitement, selling to a collector new to the room
at £2,600, a wonderful result for the charity.
Laurie Lee, one of the best
known and well loved English authors of the 20th
century was a prolific author, poet, script writer, broadcaster
and a Gloucestershire legend. He began and ended his life in
his beloved village of Slad, situated between Stroud and
Painswick and it was from his estate that a number of every day
effects from attics and outbuildings were cleared and sent for
sale. Ordinarily, the majority would not have made the saleroom
grade, however, such is the draw and the magic of the man (who
died in 1997) that the objects were offered, all be it with very
modest estimates. Every lot sold and well above expected
prices. For example a very battered Smith Corona travelling
typewriter in the remains of a leather travelling case and on
which he will have produce some work (and who knows maybe the
odd paragraph of his most famous work Cider with Rosie) was sold
at £680 against an estimate of £40/£60. While the clock that
once graced the bar room of the Queens Elm public house in
Chelsea, his favourite watering hole when in London, and removed
by him during the refitting, sold for £740. Each lot was
accompanied by a certificate signed by his wife Kathy. A large
company gathered to witness the event and those who bought were
delighted to own a simple object once owned by the great man.
Lionel Edwards was perhaps one
of the best sporting artists this country has produced, his
watercolours and oils grace many important private collections,
his prints illustrate many of the best hunting and sporting
books of the early to mid 20th century. Three
examples of his work could be found in the sale, all
illustrations to Somewhere in England by Edric Roberts dating
from 1926-28. The three remained in the hands of one buyer at
£5,050.
The best of the jewellery was
found to be a Victorian white gold brooch set with eleven pearls
and over one hundred small diamonds, it realised £2,200.
Amongst the china could be found a pair of late 18th
century pottery models of horses, probably Dutch. With hand
painted finish and despite damage they realised £1,150.
The most sought after lots in
the sales at this time are gold and silver objects, both of
which reached record highs recently, surprisingly condition
makes little difference. Military medals and effects are also
selling well particularly World War 1 and earlier pieces,
Chinese porcelains are also selling well, so too any individual
items of quality.
The next
sale is to be held on May 17th & 18th.
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