Boldon Auction Galleries: March 2023

Friday, 31 March 2023

Friday, 24 March 2023

It Ain't Half Hot Mum

Lot 8.

This wonderful lot comprises a J. Compton Sons and Webb Limited of London pith helmet, bag and pair of garters.

Estimate £40 - £60.

For Auction 29th March.

J. Compton and Webb Limited, 1930-1978 manufacturers of Helmets and Uniforms. John Compton founded the business after travelling to the Crimea to make tunics, coats and hats for the British Army Officers serving there. Beginning in Swindon they moved to Hackney in 1922 renaming themselves as J. Compton Sons and Webb, employing over 5,000 people.

Pith helmets are lightweight cloth-covered helmets made of sholapith (this is dried milky-white spongey plant matter). Often worn by European travellers and explorers in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Tropics. Routinely issued to European military personnel serving oversea in hot climates from the mid nineteenth to the mid twentieth century.

Pocket of Gold

Lot 265. A gentleman's 18ct gold pocket watch, total weight 82g, Estimate £400-£500. For auction 29th March 2023.

Serene as a Swan

Lot 12.
Two Clarice Cliff for Wilkinsons Ltd 'Swan' posy vases, numbered 881, a Charlotte Rhead vase and a Burleigh ware jug. Estimate £80 - £120. For auction 29th March.

Chinese Porcelain Plaque

Lot 1.

A Chinese porcelain plaque, the ground decorated with a faux wood background, with a Chinese vase decorating the centre, 26.5 x 18.5cm

Estimate £400 - £600

For auction 29th March

Spring is in the air - Famille Rose Chinese Vase and Brush Pot

Lot 17.

A Chinese famille rose vase and a large Chinese blue and white brush pot, 29cm height and 15cm height

Estimate £400 - £600

For Auction 29th March

Battle of Britain

Lot 256.
A World War II Luftwaffe, Junghans chronometer, taken from a downed German bomber during the Battle of Britain, in oak mount
Estimate £200 - £400, for auction 29th March

Gearing up for Spring

20 Road and Mountain Bikes to be sold at auction on 29th March

Come and View Saturday 10 - 1 or Tuesday 10-12 and 2-6

Precision Time Keeping

Lot 261.

A gentleman's 9ct gold Rolex 'Precision' wristwatch, 26.6mm x 26.8mm, with boxes

Estimate £800 - £1200, for auction 29th March

Sewing Time

Lot 3. A boxed Singer Sew Handy child's sewing machine, model no. 20. Estimate £15-£30. For auction 29th March.

Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Just In for Auction 29th March!

Unframed Tom McGuinness gouache. Provenance: The vendor was a relative of Tom McGuinness

Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Where Words Fail, Music Speaks

A Private Collection of Guitars for auction on Wednesday 29th March from 10am.

Come and view Saturday 25th March 10am-1pm, Tuesday 28th March 10am-12noon and 2pm-6pm and morning of the auction from 9am.

Friday, 17 March 2023

Coming Soon ......

Classic Motorbike Auction 31st May 2023

Entries are invited

One of the lots already consigned is this terrific

1960 BSA 650cc Road Rocket

Royal Dux Centrepiece

Lot 2. A Royal Dux centrepiece. Sold £300. 15th March 2023.

Corgi Die Cast is as popular as ever

Lot 80. A quantity of Corgi Die Cast Eddie Stobbart wagons. Sold £100. 15th March 2023.

Hitting the Right Note

Lot 64. Two cased tubas (?), Boosey and Hawkes and Hawkes and Son. Sold £420. 15th March 2023

Brush Pot Success

Top Lot in the 15th March Auction.

Lot 26. Sold £4,000.

A Chinese brush pot, impressed mark to base, 11cm tall

Wednesday, 8 March 2023

In celebration of International Women's Day 2023

At Boldon Auction Galleries, we pride ourselves on our diversity, our female staff and directors, with a wide range of training and expertise relevant to the auction industry, help us to provide a diverse, inclusive environment that encourages an open dialogue across multiple paradigms.The auction industry has a rich and fascinating history, with a wealth of influential figures who have shaped the industry into what it is today. However, when it comes to recognizing the contributions of women, the industry has often fallen short. In this article, we want to celebrate the incredible women who have made their mark in the auction industry and discuss how we can move forward to make the industry more equitable and inclusive for everyone.

In the United Kingdom, there have been a number of influential female figures in the auction industry. Mary-Anne Long was the first woman to become a partner in a major auction house when she joined Phillips in 1988. She went on to become the head of Christie's Impressionist and Modern Art department in London and has been credited with helping to transform the industry by introducing new technology and marketing techniques.

Another pioneering figure in the UK auction industry was Roseberys founder, Saffron Van der Meer. She founded the auction house in 1987 and quickly made a name for herself as a leader in the industry. She was a strong advocate for women in the industry and helped mentor and promote many female auctioneers and appraisers.

Dolly Johnson was a trailblazer in the industry, becoming the first African American woman to own a successful auction house. She founded Dolly Johnson Auction House in Chicago in the 1960s, and quickly made a name for herself as a skilled appraiser and auctioneer. Despite facing discrimination and prejudice, Dolly persevered and built a thriving business that helped pave the way for other women and people of colour in the industry.

Estelle Zaretsky was another pioneering figure in the industry, founding the first auction house dedicated solely to contemporary art. In the early 1970s, she founded Zaretsky & Associates, which quickly gained a reputation as one of the premier auction houses for contemporary art. Estelle was a fierce advocate for artists, and helped many emerging artists get their start in the art world.

In addition to these influential figures in the industry, we also want to recognize the incredible female artists who have made their mark in the art world.

From Barbara Hepworth: British sculptor known for her abstract and modernist sculptures in bronze, marble, and other materials.

Bridget Riley: British painter associated with the Op Art movement, known for her abstract and geometric paintings.

Joan Miró: Spanish painter and sculptor known for his surrealist works, including colourful and whimsical sculptures.

Mary Cassatt: American painter and printmaker known for her intimate and sensitive depictions of mothers and children.

Louise Bourgeois: French American artist known for her sculptures, installations, and prints that explore themes of feminism, sexuality, and the body.

Tracey Emin: British artist known for her provocative and confessional works, including installations, sculptures, and neon signs.

Cindy Sherman: American photographer known for her self-portraits that explore themes of identity, gender, and representation.

Yayoi Kusama: Japanese artist known for her colourful and psychedelic sculptures, installations, and paintings, often featuring polka dots and other repeating patterns.

Clarice Cliff: An English ceramic artist and designer who became famous in the 1920s and 1930s for her bold and colorful Art Deco pottery designs. She worked for the Staffordshire pottery company Wilkinson's Ltd., where she began as an apprentice and eventually became the head of the design department.

Charlotte Rhead: A British ceramic artist and designer who was known for her intricate and colorful pottery designs and use of tube-lining . She came from a family of highly skilled artists and craftsmen, and she began her career as an apprentice in her father's pottery business, going on to work with the highly regarded Burleighware and Crown Ducal.

Hannah Barlow: A British ceramic artist who is best known for her work as a decorator at the Doulton pottery in Staffordshire, England. She joined Doulton in 1871 and quickly established herself as one of the company's most talented and prolific artists.

Mary Gregory: An American artist who is best known for her work on glassware. She worked for the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company in the late 19th century, where she created a distinctive style of glass painting that is still highly prized by collectors today.

Female artists have had a profound impact on the art world, and their contributions deserve to be celebrated and recognized. Here we have a range of works by female artists that Boldon Auction Galleries have had the privilege of selling over the years:

A Wedgwood Clarice Cliff 'Circles and Squares' vase and a 'Blossom' wall plate and a small bowl

Sold in our Antique, Interior and General Sale Wednesday, 01 February 2023 for £70

A large Poole vase and a Charlotte Rhead tubeline vase, 45cm x 30cm height

Sold in our Antique, Interior and General Sale Wednesday, 15 February 2023 for £85

A Doulton Lambeth vase, incised decoration, incised initials, H.B. for Hannah Barlow, 29cm height

Sold in our Antique, Interior and General Sale Wednesday, 14 October 2020 for £150

A pair of blue glass Mary Gregory style spill vases, 23cm height

Sold in our Antique, Interior and General Sale Wednesday, 19 May 2021 for £30

Moving forward, while the contributions of these incredible women cannot be understated, there is still much work to be done to ensure that the auction industry is truly equitable and inclusive for everyone. One way to achieve this is to actively seek out and support underrepresented voices, including women.

Additionally, auction houses can work to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment by providing mentorship opportunities, promoting diversity in hiring practices, and offering training programs to encourage new voices to enter the industry.

In conclusion, the auction industry owes a great deal to the trailblazing women who have contributed so much to its development and success. By recognizing their contributions and actively working towards a more inclusive and equitable industry, we can ensure that the auction world continues to thrive and evolve for years to come.