From Rust to Riches

Sold for £27500

 Lot 310, a 1950 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, was undoubtedly the star of our Fine Art and Antique Sale on 15th December 2010.  The car generated so much interest that extra phone lines had to be manned to cope with the number of telephone bidders before selling to the room for a massive £27,500.  The story of the car captured the imagination of the press with features on BBC Look North,  BBC Radio Newcastle, as well as in The Journal and The Sunderland Echo, The XK Gazette and Classic Car Magazine.

The huge project of restoring this beautiful car has been taken on by a local enthusiast who plans to spend over two years working on it and has promised to keep us up to date with his progress.

Although the spotlight was on the XK120 it didn't detract attention from the rest of the sale with a saleroom full of lively bidders competing with not only telephone purchasers but also online buyers.

Lot 55, an elegant Lalique "Statuette de la Fontaine" cendrier sold particularly well at £600,

Lot 55 - £600

and this wily Sylvac fox and chicken made an impressive £240.

Lot 68 - £240

Medals always prove popular and this collection including "South Africa 1902" and three World War I
medals with a heart shaped Durham Light Infantry cushion and silk embroidered panel reached £320.

Lot 130 - £320

Jewellery was popular in this sale - perhaps with Christmas looming - and Lots 241 and 242, a platinum set pendant with 57 old cut diamonds and a pair of platinum set drop earrings also set with old cut diamonds, selling for £1000 and £460 respectively, while Lot 258, an 18ct gold solitaire diamond ring sold for £700.



Lot 241 - £1000

Lot 242 - £460

Lot 258 - £700

Both this beautiful Irish Victorian silver tea pot and lot 251, a canteen of Old English Pattern cutlery exceeded  their upper estimates showing that the market for silver is still buoyant.

Lot 188 - £550

Lot 251 - £920

And gold prices continue to remain high with Lot 231 a 9ct gold engine turned cigarette case pushing past its estimate to reach £980.

Lot 231 - £980

  Paintings sold well with a lot of interest in Lot 305, the Thomas Bush Hardy watercolour of "Deojozzi off the Giardini Pubblici" which sold to a telephone bidder for £3500.

Lot 305 - Sold for £3500

Lot 269, a watercolour by William Selwyn of "Winter sunshine Nant Gwynant" fetched £600

Lot 269 - £600

and two watercolours by M Snape also sold well.

Lot 273 - £700

Lot 274 - £500

 We had some interesting pieces of furniture which met a positive response.  Lot 324, a Regency mahogany sofa table, sold for £880;

Lot 324 - £880

and clocks were popular with this 19th Century Carlisle made long case clock selling for £520.

Lot 328 - £520

This beautiful 19th Century pine fire surround decorated with acanthus and foliate scrolls, birds and flowers rocketed up to £900 while Lot 366, a bronze fountain centre piece modelled on a young boy holding 2 ducks made an impressive £700,

Lot 365 - £900

Lot 366 - £700

The best seller was Lot 367, a 19th Century secretaire campaign chest which sold for £17500.

Lot 367 -  £1750

This has been a very successful finale to the year and Boldon Auction Galleries

is already putting together the next Fine Art and Antique Sale to be held on Wednesday 16th March 2011.

We would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.