Sale highlights from our Fine Art and Antique Auction held on Wednesday 4th March 2015
Our March Fine Art sale started with a suitably spring-like offering with a Royal Doulton “Farmer Bunnykin” selling for £400, while a set of four Royal Copenhagen “Flora Danica” plates, each decorated with a named botanical specimen sold to a telephone bidder for £850.
Other successful porcelain lots included a collection of 19 Rye Pottery figures; the Canterbury Tales which sold for £600 and a rare Royal Doulton “hatless” Sir Francis Drake which sold to the internet for £900 at the middle of its estimate.
Military figures also sold well with a limited edition Michael Sutty porcelain military group of The Battle of Waterloo 1815 selling for £750 and a collection of 16 Capo di Monte military figures selling to a telephone bidder for £550.
The greatest excitement of the day surrounded the sale of two clocks:
The first, a large Black Forest cuckoo clock in need of restoration sold to the room for £1000 after a fierce battle, against an estimate of £80-120 and the second, a small brass French carriage clock was finally won by an internet bidder for an impressive £6400.
A Russian musket with the provenance “Picked up by Lord Clyde at the Alma” and dated 1833 soared up to £1500, while an Indian sword with leather scabbard, together with a framed prayer from the Koran sold to a commission bidder for £500.
There were fewer toys compared to previous auctions but one lot that sold particularly well was a collection of 24 boxed Matchbox Series Vehicles which went to an internet bidder for £320.
Books were popular with a copy of Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming, first published in 1954 selling for £900 and a copy of British Fresh-water Fishes by The Reverend W Houghton selling for £360 to the internet.
Three old photograph albums, a Peace Dinner menu from a meal held at Claridges in June 1919 and a selection of autographs and postcards soared above their estimate before selling for £420.
Gold, silver, watches and medals continue to hold their value with a double sovereign dated 1902 selling for £380, above its estimated scrap value of £200-300,
while a bag of silver and enamelled brooches etc, estimated between £30-50 clearly sold for their aesthetic appeal rather than just their silver value as they went to an internet bidder for £360. The same would appear to apply to lot 252, two micro mosaic bracelets in yellow metal with a three stone citrine brooch, which sold for £500 against an estimate of £40-60.
A 9ct cased Rolex watch with import marks for Glasgow dated 1938 sold for £660 to a commission bidder and a Great British Regiments cased set of 52 silver medals with insignia sold to the room for £720 at the middle of its estimate.
Particularly nice artwork included a collection of 60 military watercolours with each painting depicting a soldier, his country and his regiment, which sold for £330; a watercolour by John Atkinson (1863-1924) of cattle grazing on a hillside which sold for £480; and most interestingly, an oil on canvas by local artist Robert Jobling (1841-1923) of fishing cobles and other vessels at sea. Jobling was born in Newcastle and initially worked in a local glassworks then moved on to become a ship painter at the Tyne General Ferry Company where he progressed to foreman before deciding to become a full time artist. He regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Robert “Mouseman” Thompson furniture always sells well and in this auction saw a panelled oak fall flap bureau with two short and two long drawers sell above estimate at £2600 to a local collector.
A mahogany long case clock with 8 day movement by John Dodds of Wigtown with an oscillating tall ship also went to a local buyer for £1000 against an estimate of £400-600.
Teak continues to enjoy a resurgence in appeal with a Younger and Sons sideboard, table and chairs selling for £340 and a set of eight Norwegian teak carver chairs with vinyl backs and seats selling for £440.
Lot 430, a large mahogany campaign trunk with brass bands and two carrying handles sold well above its estimate of £100-150. Its £500 selling price is possibly partially due to its unusual shape and size as it was longer than typical campaign pieces.
Finally, one of the more unusual pieces was a Lunarium scientific instrument by George Phillips and Sons Ltd of London which would be used to depict the seasons and horoscopes with a rotating arm with attached globe. The piece had been converted to work with electricity, and sold to a commission bidder for £600.
We are now accepting entries for our next Fine Art and Antique Auction which will be held on Wednesday 24th June 2015
www.boldonauctions.co.uk
0191 5372630