A May to remember

Precious metals continue to live up to their name, as a yellow metal double fancy bracelet weighing approximately 29 grams took the top spot for the highest value achieved, selling for an incredible £1,400. Following closely behind was a 9ct gold ingot pendant bearing the sponsor's mark Carr's of Sheffield Ltd, suspended on a 9ct chain, sold for £1,200. Third place was claimed by a 9ct gold Spiga link chain necklace weighing approximately 26.8 grams, selling for £850.

Moving across the periodic table, a George VI silver Art Deco hot water pot with the sponsor's mark of Barker Brothers Silver Ltd. demonstrated the power of the fusion between art and functionality, exceeding its estimate to sell for £780. Meanwhile, a group lot comprising a pair of bonbon dishes, a sauceboat, a basket and a pedestal bowl, together weighing approximately 460 grams, achieved £570. Strong results in both gold and silver reflect a continued confidence from buyers in these markets, and attest to the enduring appeal of shiny objects.

In ceramics, our bidders certainly didn't horse around when a series of equine Beswick figures went under the hammer. ‘Pinton chestnut horse’ galloped to its higher estimate at £500, and, in a surprising twist, two Appaloosa horses sold for five times their lower estimate, reaching a remarkable £300.

The pictures section once again captured the excitement and unpredictability of the auction room, with spirited bidding driving several works well beyond expectations. A copy of the neoclassical masterpiece Napoleon Crossing the Alps emerged as the top-selling picture of the day, as two determined bidders battled in the saleroom before it finally sold for £500. Interest in the genre proved particularly strong, with another neoclassical work, after Alfred de Dreux, Portrait of General Fleury, also attracting significant attention before achieving £360.

The brilliance of our interiors sales lies in both the breadth of categories offered and the depth of research and cataloguing behind every lot. In modern design, an English Pewter 'Tudric' candlestick designed by Archibald Knox, (1864-1933) for Liberty & Co certainly caught the attention of bidders, achieving £95. Another designer made waves in the saleroom, a Vivienne Westwood bag, in 'Candy plaid' tartan linen, sold for £200. Meanwhile, in our sale of furniture, it seemed that bigger was indeed better, as an early 19th-century oak dresser and rack will travel overseas to its buyer after selling for £460.

In other auction news, Clevedon Salerooms was delighted to celebrate our newest and youngest ever auctioneer. Elliot confidently took to the rostrum for watches and silver, successfully selling two silver-cased pocket watches with accessories for £320, a lady’s 1930s 9ct gold bracelet watch for £260, and a Citizen Eco-Drive RAF Red Arrows chronograph bracelet watch for £190.

There’s no rest for an auction house, and with summer fast approaching, so is our next quarterly specialist sale on 11 June 2026. Featuring an exciting selection of rare finds and exceptional pieces, the sale will be available to view in person in the saleroom on Wednesday, 10 June, where we look forward to welcoming you.