RESULTS OF OUR FIRST ANTIQUES, RARE POTTERY & FINE ART AUCTION
Our first Fine Art Auction was held on Saturday 10th March 2018, the Saleroom was packed despite the cold and rain and there was an electric atmosphere in the Saleroom!
The star of the sale was without a doubt the spectacular 3.9 carat diamond single stone ring, and this in itself tells its own story. With the jewellery dealers and diamond merchants largely out of the bidding by £9,000,00 there were still two or three private buyers battling it out to £10,400.00. This was a fantastic result for both buyer and seller. The buyer bought a diamond ring, for a lot less than they would have done in a high street jewellery shop, and the seller getting far more than if they had sold directly to a local jeweller, even after commission.
Lot 855 – Sale Price £10,400.00
A lot of work goes into the photography, condition reports, social media and internet promotion, catalogues, viewing, security and the actual bidding and selling process. This last element, has helped to propel us forward as one of Staffordshires leading auction houses. We have two independent live internet bidding platforms, giving us access to bidders from all over the world. National and international buyers can view, bid and pay, all online. We personally handle the international shipment of thousands of items sold at our auctions each year. As usual, the jewellery was very well represented with a vast array of high quality rings and other pieces, and keen bidding from far and wide, ensured a nearly 100% success rate on our jewellery sales.
Lot 801 – Sale Price £2,300.00
Lot 738 – Sale Price £950.00.
Quality always sells, and a superb pair of glass vases (lot 53) surprised everyone when they made 5 times the top estimate to sell at £1,100.00. The market for glass is generally a little soft at the moment, but clearly not for these highly decorative and well decorated pieces, in superb condition.
Lot 53 Sale Price £1,150.00.
Bidders were seen in abundance for the better Royal Doulton, Moorcroft, Royal Crown Derby, Beswick and Wedgwood pieces, but the big surprise in this section, came from the rare Wade pieces, many with original boxes, which saw fierce bidding chase them to multiple times over estimate. Examples of Della Robia, Noritake & Copeland Parian ware were all represented, demonstrating the importance of a well balanced sale with plenty of variety.
Lot 404 Sale Price £1,450.00
Wedgwood & Bentley prestige china two handled vase ”Floralies” in green colourway, signed G B Walters.
Lot 188 Sale Price £1,250.00
Royal Doulton prototype earthenware figure of a Viking holding his axe with shield, impressed model no 1513 and marked ‘Potted by Doulton & Co.
Some interesting furniture was on offer, we are now seeing an increase developing in a sector that has been rather flat for a number of years. It’s certainly time to start paying attention to the furniture market as the tide is starting to turn, and the low prices we have come to expect are likely to shortly be a thing of the past. A good George III / William IV two pillar mahogany dining table created a lot of interest, being knocked down at £2,500.00.
Lot 219 Sale Price £2,500.00
Photographs of various sorts did very well, and an album of carde de visite calling cards from Royalty & Nobility sold well at £400.00. The first batch of a fascinating collection of Lafayette studio portraits made good prices, especially the Indian related ones. They were discovered a few years ago, hidden in the back storage room of a small museum, and have been a source of some great interest.
Oriental metalware, jade and ceramics were again very much in demand, with concentrated and determined bidding from the middle and far east, elevating the prices nicely above the top estimates in many cases, creating some great results for various local vendors of ours.
Lot 640 Sale Price £2,600.00
19th Century Chinese blue & white lidded censer Jar & cover decorated with a fine scrolling lotus and Buddhist emblems surrounding the bowl, the pierced lid with fu / foo lion finial on tripod footed design, height 36cm, condition, both handles are re-stuck and one has several small chips to edges.
Last, but not least, we must not forget our silver entries. As always, we saw a fascinating array of unusual silver, from Victorian snuff boxes by Nathaniel Mills, to a lovely Art Deco silver biscuit Barrell, possibly designed by Dr Christopher Dresser, which sold for £750.00. The buyer was delighted with his purchase, the seller was even more thrilled, as they had only expected £200 – £400. This all goes to show that there is silver, and there is scarce silver, and the secret is knowing the difference.
Silver Art Deco Biscuit Barrel, hallmarks for Birmingham 1936. Weight 660.2g / 21.24 tr oz. Height 18cm. Makers Elkington & Co. Redolent of the designs of Dr Christopher Dresser. In good condition.