Sale Report

A REMARKABLE RESULT

The February auction proved to be a very buoyant sale with strong competition in all areas, especially furniture.  With a countrywide general lack of goods on the market due in part to bad weather conditions in January and early February, coupled with a slow house market, auctioneers that can fill their rooms attract keen prices and such was the case here at Wotton-under-Edge.

By far the highest price of the sale was taken for one of the smallest objects, a cloisonne (or enamelled) vase about five and a half inches in height decorated with birds and flowers upon a blue ground, the drawn neck detailed further floral scenes.

Not an ordinary piece however, research proved it to be by the celebrated Japanese artist Namikawa Yasuyuki.

Substantially larger pieces by this craftsman had realized £3,000-£5,000, however the diminutive size simply exemplified the quality of the workmanship; condition too was outstanding.  All phones lines were booked and bidding was active in the room.  It soared from an opening bid of £1,000 to close at £12,000, almost certainly a world record auction price for a piece of this size by Yasuyuki.

Earlier a small continental carved ivory tankard with silver mounts and encrusted with garnets and other stones, about six inches in height, sold at £3,300.  Amongst the furniture  Victorian extending dining tables found favour at £1,350 and £1,050, whilst an earlier ‘D’ end twin pedestal table sold at £1,150 and a good 17^th century fruitwood and oak two sectional chest cupboard realized £2,500.

Other prices included an oak jointed armchair of simple construction at £860, whilst the best of the pedestal desks realized £600, £520, £500, etc.

A Victorian figured walnut breakfast table realized £600, a William IV Chiffonier £530, a Georgian pine cottage dresser £760.

Best amongst the pictures was £900 taken for a pair of marine scenes on card, possibly by William Calcott Knell.  The most curious lot was probably a silver box in the Art Deco manner mounted on a whale’s tooth £680.

With a virtual clear out the rooms are now filling for the next sale on March 23^rd & 24^th and entries already received include a good collection of 18^th century Welsh oak following a clearance near Swansea.

Lot 362  - £12,000

Lot 1383 - £2,500

Lot 361 -  £3,300

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