WINE ANYONE?

Our last sale was full of amazing items, on of our lots left our client gobsmacked! And incredibly happy

A Hipkins Patent Single lever corkscrew, stamped C.F Hipkins and son, LOT 188 sold in our 16th March Antique and Interiors sale for £1900.              

The company G F Hipkins became Hipkins and son about 1878.  By 1890 the company was managed by the founders widow. By 1901 William Hipkins had taken over the company and was the managing director until his death. Occupying two position, as MD at Hipkins and son and at W & T Avory. 

William Hipkins started his corkscrew manufacturing career as foreman in the Lund factory in London. Later he joining father’s business in Birmingham. In 1879 William Hipkins obtained a patent for a Lever rack design. A year later he was granted another patent.  He specialized in manufacturing patented corkscrews like the Whelan 1881 patent, the 1894 Maud’s patent and some Henshall straight pull corkscrews as well as steel eyebrow corkscrews. Hipkins was extremely appreciated developing the W & T A business as well as designing and manufacturing corkscrews

We had a fantastic sale on Wednesday, met loads of new customers and sold some really interesting lots, everyday we are amazed more and more by some of the fabulous items our clients bring to us... Remember we also do house clearances and home valuations, if you have anything you would like to sell, if you have a home you wish to clear, or your looking to grab yourself a beautiful antique or a simple bargain, look us up and we will always be happy to help.

Below is a selection of highlights from our last Antique and Interiors Sale,

giving you a flavour of some of the items that sell through our Auctions.

 

It's the way we were

Last week we had a fantastic sale here at Boldon Auction Galleries, with a lot of interest placed on the diaries and photos linked to local newspapers! We had so much fun in the saleroom, excited with anticipation to see who would be the lucky winner... You can read about the photos and diaries in the above article by The Chronicle

Beauty in Black and White

This exquisite Vizagapatam Easel mirror will be offered for Auction on Wednesday 16^th March with an estimate of £200-£300.

Vizagapatam District was the largest district in the Madras Presidency of British India until 1936.  The town of Vizagapatam was a principal trading port between Europe and East Asia with the Honourable East India Company establishing a base there.  

In its heyday it must have been a fascinating bustling place with ships passing through on their way to and from China and England.  

The outstanding craftsmanship on this mirror is typical of the grey or black decoration on creamy white ivory that is seen in furniture, mirrors, sewing boxes, trinket boxes and the like from the early 18^th century onwards.

Fight of the Century

A certified official cap badge from the 1971 MSG World Heavy weight Championship between Ali and Frazier, with an Official Inaugural Induction Cover and photo of Carmen Basilio ( an Italian-American professional boxer who was the world champion in both the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions and good friend to Ali) signing and holding it.

In 1971, with both Ali and Frazier having legitimate claims to the title of World Heavyweight Champion. a tremendous amount of hype and anticipation was created for a match pitting the two undefeated fighters against one another to decide who was the true heavyweight champ.

Ali displaying uncommon speed and dexterity for a man of his size dominated most of his opponents and had often predicted the round in which he would knock them out. However, Ali struggled at times during his 15th round TKO of Oscar Bonavena, an unorthodox Argentinian fighter who was prepared by Hall of Fame trainer Gil Clancy

Frazier was known as a tenacious competitor who attacked the body of his opponent ferociously and had an outstanding left hook. Frazier had a serious bout of hypertension in the lead-up to the fight but appeared on top form as the fight between the two undefeated champions began.

The fight held a broad political meaning for many Americans as Ali had become a symbol of the left-wing anti-establishment movement during his government-imposed exile from the ring, while Frazier had been adopted by the conservative, pro-war movement. According to the 2009 documentary Thriller in Manila, the match, which had been dubbed "The Fight", "gripped the nation, but also split it down the middle.

Its said that the evening of the match there were scores of policeman seen to be trying to control outrageously dressed fans and celebrities among a huge crowd.

The fight went the full 15-round championship distance, exceeding its own promotional hype. While Ali dominated the first three rounds, Frazier connected with a horrifying hook to Ali's jaw, throwing his head back before ferociously attacking Ali's body.

The fight continued with both Ali and Frazier dealing each other unlimited blows and ending with the Judges coming to a unanimous decision officially naming Frazier as the The World Heavyweight Champion, dealing Ali his first professional loss.

The lot will be sold in our Antiques and Interiors sale on Wednesday 16th March 2016.

"When the Devil was sick the Saint would be 

When the Devil got well Devil a Saint was he"

An extremely rare and beautiful example of a Royal Doulton character jug / toby mug Mephistopheles - The Devil.  Designed by Charles Noke and Harry Fenton and hand-painted in England. It numbers D5757 and was issued between 1937-1948. This very rare and highly sought after jug was one of the very few produced during WWII, at a time when the production of decorated China for the UK market was prohibited due to wartime restrictions.

Mephistopheles was the very first two faced character jug produced and remained so for fifty years! The Jug depicts both a happy and miserable faced Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles mood altered depending on his ability to make a deal for a soul or not. 

Mephistopheles is a demon he was first mentioned in German folklore back in the 16th century, best known in the Johann Von Goethe's drama "Faust" (1808). He was portrayed as an evil spirit or devil, making deals with Faust who sells his soul in return. 

The Mephistopheles jug stands approximately 5.5-6 inches tall, and is in good condition. The bottom of the jug bears the inscription "When the devil was sick the Saint would be When the devil got well devil a Saint was he"

Mephistopheles is listed on page 214 of A Century of Royal Doulton Character & Toby Jugs, and in The Royal Doulton Jugs Charlton Standard Catalogue 10th edition on page 265. Listed book value of $2500. 

The jug will be held for sale in our 16th March 2016 Antique and Interiors sale.

Here at Boldon Auction Galleries we sell everything, from books to furnishings, everyday items to antiques, ornaments to... Well we could go on for hours but we know you understand! If you are downsizing, or simply want to move on unused items, please free to pop in to one of our FREE valuation days and we will do our best to help you sell them at auction. 

Below we have put together a selection of highlights from the last General Sale, showing the diversity of items we sell at Auction.