We seem to be finishing the year with a bang! The 23rd November sale was more than a little eclectic and surprised us by leaving all expectations way behind to return a total take on the day of in excess of £230,000.
The sale started a little slowly with the furniture, which continues to be difficult but offers great value for buyers. However, we gradually built momentum through various sections and categories. The art section had a few misses but a good collection of Will Evans unframed watercolours and sketches was well contested to total £2665*, and a Charles Wyatt Warren oil was knocked down at £580*. A collection of works by Neil Canning totalled £1395*. A 19th Century German painted Venetian scene realised £900*, after much speculative interest. An Italian panorama of the bay of Naples made £850* against an estimate of £200-300.
Ceramics were led by a Royal Worcester bone china Welsh Mountain Pony at £950* and a pair of Lenci figures of a boy and a girl totalling £4600*. Oriental/Chinese porcelain was led by a pair of floor vases at £1300*. An unusual collection of temple bells and gongs totalled £1650*.
An interesting collection of antique firearms was very well chased throughout with a strange three-barrel belt buckle pistol making a surprising £650*, a Georgian air cane walking stick air gun going for over estimate at £950* and a pair of Turkish flintlock pistols smashed their estimates to sell back to Turkey at £3700*.
A group of locally sourced classic cars found plenty of interest and were led by a very sad-looking ‘barn find’ 1933 MG J2 at £13800 including BP. Two others from the same remote and long closed garage, a 1960’s Austin Cambridge A60 (for spares or repair) made £600* and a 1960s Morris Minor did well at £1400*, despite needing work and recommissioning. The other classic motor was a 1968 Daimler 250 V8, a sound-looking car but in need of work, requiring a new interior. This made £5750 including BP.
Silver did well with many items going to collectors rather than trade because of their significance. A presentation tray led the day at £700*. Stamps were a complete sell-out and strongly competed.
An exceptional collection of Estate jewellery, one of the best for some years, had huge interest and contributed greatly to the overall total for the day. Many lots were making multiples of their estimates and one consignment exceeded £40,000 in total! A small collection of good watches were led by an 18ct gold Rolex Cellini dress watch at £2540 including BP, with an unusual 18ct gold chiming hunter chronograph deservedly realising £2100*.
The sale drew to a close with a near sell-out of oriental rugs led by a Persian Tajabad rug at £460* and a selection of garden furniture. This included an Italian Pietra Dura centre table with a little damage which made £500*.
Altogether a quite an extraordinary day in these not-so-easy times, giving us encouragement as we bring out our last sale of the year for December 7th.
Happy Christmas to Clients old and new!
Peter Francis Auctioneers
* plus BP
