Wednesday 25 January 2012

December Auction Highlights

Our pre-Christmas Antique and Fine Art Auction, held on Wednesday 14th December, was a great success with many buyers finding the perfect last minute Christmas gift.


Ceramics, Glass and Works of Art
We had an interesting collection of ceramics and works of art including Lot 11, a pair of Chinese Canton enamel vases which sold for £650;


Lot 74, A Beswick cantering shire horse and small foal in Rocking Horse Grey, estimated at £100-150, who galloped away at £440;


and Lot 84, A Bizarre by Clarice Cliff coffee service which sold for £560.


Collectables
Our most exciting lot from the Collectables category was clearly the folio of correspondence from Sir George Byng to Rear Admiral Delaval.

These letters attracted a lot of interest from the press and although they didn’t meet their reserve at auction there was a flurry of activity after the sale leading to them selling to a local collector.

Militaria
Interest in militaria remained strong with 3 bayonets estimated at £60-100 selling for £360 and Lot 140, a Japanese World War II officer’s sword fetching £380.

Musical Instruments
We continue to achieve very desirable results with our musical instruments, building on our strong customer base to sell two violins and bows for £1450 and £2050 and two cellos and bows for £2000 each.

Jewellery, Silver and Silver Plate
Gold and silver continued to sell well with many buyers looking for the perfect present.
Lot 232, a 1960’s gentleman’s Rolex Oyster chronometer sold for £1350 and Lot 252, an 18ct gold diamond cluster ring fetched £900.


Coins
We had a large selection of coins from a private collector which generated a lot of interest and achieved some particularly strong prices, notably Lot 302, four 22ct gold UK one pound coins which sold for £1800 and the dramatic success of Lot 321, a box of old collectors coins valued quite conservatively which exceeded all expectations by selling for £2150.

Oils, Watercolours and Prints
We had a large collection of paintings in the sale, many coming from a single estate. Interesting lots included Lot 370, an oil on canvas by Charles James Lauder of “Shipping on the Clyde” which sold for £880;

Lot 385, an oil on canvas of Highland cattle by A A G which sold for £1250;
and Lot 401, a very pretty oil on ivorine panel dated 1877 of wild heather with butterflies, which sold to an international telephone bidder for £2000.

Furniture
Robert “Mouseman” Thompson furniture was a big feature of the sale with items including a barometer, sewing box and book stand and larger pieces such as an oak refectory table which sold for £1200, three chairs and a carver which sold for £1150 and a sideboard which fetched £1750 even though it was missing one of its drawers.

Lot 425, a Heriz carpet with turquoise blue ground, attracted a lot of interest before selling to an internet bidder for £3700.

Items of local interest
Our most interesting local item was definitely the naval correspondence mentioned previously and we are particularly pleased that it has stayed in the north east. For further information about the collection please see previous entries on this blog.

Other regional lots included local postcards, a set of sixteen volumes of Archaeologia Aeliana, the journal of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and a glass tankard depicting the Sacriston Disaster of 16th November 1903 which sold for £90.
We are now accepting entries for our next Fine Art and Antique Auction to be held on Wednesday 7th March 2012. Please telephone us to arrange an appointment if you have an item you wish to sell.

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Flog It! Screening



Don't miss the latest Flog It! television show with Boldon Auction Galleries. 


It will be screened on Thursday 12th January 2012, BBC2 at 3:45pm.

This programme was made during the Summer at Alnwick Castle and Boldon Auction Galleries, East Boldon.


We hope you enjoy it.