Friday 20 August 2010

BBC Radio Newcastle interview

Giles Hodges
Giles Hodges from Boldon Auction Galleries was interviewed today by Russ Ward on BBC Radio Newcastle in a feature discussing the current Auction Market.
To listen again follow the link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p009d1k0/Alfie_and_Charlie_at_Breakfast_20_08_2010/ Charlie_at_Breakfast_20_08_2010/
and click on the time 2.18.50.

Friday 13 August 2010

Vintage Treasures

Our fortnightly Victorian and General Household Auctions regularly turn up some fascinating items with a rich history.

One of the most interesting lots coming up in our forthcoming sale on Wednesday 25th August could easily be overlooked:


At first glance it's a fairly unprepossessing and shabby looking wooden box.


But when you open it  you discover a lot more than you might expect, because folded up in that small box is a "Bilhorn Telescopic Organ". 


Folding organs like this were invented by an evangelical musician P Bilhorn, and manufactured in the early 1900s.  They were apparently used by touring preachers and missionaries because they were easily portable and quick and simple to open up and start playing.  Some were even specially customised for missionaries travelling to tropical climates with extra features such as poisoned felt to prevent destruction by insects.  There are some fascinating advertisements and flyers about the Bilhorn range, promoting its compact size and sweetness of tone, and the example coming up for sale at our next auction still makes a beautiful sound.  This particular instrument appears to have been produced or sold under licence by an Englishman, John Bateman of Paternoster Square, London, and it will be intriguing to see how the bidding goes when this lot comes under the hammer.

Fans of retro china, kitchenalia and "shabby chic" collectables should have a good rummage through some of our box lots to find some hidden gems.


This lot of four small boxes reveals some real treasures such as these fabulous vintage tins

 

 this wonderful tin drum


a brass kettle and three miniature metal teapots


some lovely childrens' china 


and balloon whisks and patty-pans for kitchenalia enthusiasts 


 along with many more items including an amazing collection of novelty pencil-sharpeners - all from one boxed lot.

So next time you come along to Boldon Auction Galleries have a good look amongst the boxes and shelves and you might be surprised what you can find.

Tuesday 3 August 2010

Man’s Best Friend?

Boldon Auction Galleries once again held a highly successful Fine Art and Antique Auction on Wednesday 7th July 2010, with a wide range of antiques, collectables, jewellery, furniture and memorabilia.

We had a wide selection of ornaments, from early Staffordshire figures to contemporary ceramics.



These charming Beswick Fireside dogs fetched between £75 and £100 each


proving that dogs still are “man’s best friend"
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and this pair of Royal Doulton “Evacuees”

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modelled by Adrian Hughes more than doubled their estimate, making £400.

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One of our most eagerly contested lots was a beautiful diamond and emerald “lucky clover” brooch which sold for £900 to a telephone bidder.









Books were also good sellers in this auction


accruing an impressive £720;

and a set of 7 botanical volumes “A supplement to Elwes Monograph of the genus Lilium” selling for £700.

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One of our most interesting furniture lots was a 19th Century mahogany campaign chest which sold for £500.
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Our most publicised lot has to be Marilyn Monroe’s corset.

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Although it did not reach its reserve at auction an excited collector read about it in The Chronicle and telephoned after the sale for more information about the lot. She was delighted to discover that it hadn’t sold and happily paid £250 for this amazing piece of memorabilia.

Proving that Boldon Auction Galleries is a truly international business, Lot 370,


A Caucasian Soumak, is now on its way to New York having sold for £1700.

Vintage toy collectors had a busy time at this sale with an impressive selection of Corgi, Hornby and Dinky vehicles coming under the hammer. One of the smallest, was Lot 152 a boxed “Spot On” Lambretta which despite its diminutive size sold for an impressive £85.


Our next Fine Art and Antique Sale will be held on Wednesday 22nd September with viewing from 10-1 on Saturday 18th September and 2-7 on Tuesday 21st September.

We will be accepting entries for this sale until Friday 3rd September.

Please contact us via telephone, email or in person if you have items that you would like to submit.

Boldon Auction Galleries
0191 5372630
boldon@btconnect.com