After the Gold Rush
Clevedon Salerooms most recent Interiors sale was held at the Kenn Road Auction Centre on Thursday 30th April. A crisp sunny Spring day outside was matched by a golden hue inside, as it was amongst that precious metal that the top prices of the day were to be found.
The auction’s top finisher was an Italian 9ct gold filed curb link heavy gauge necklace, which weighed in at an almighty 167.5g approximately. With gold prices maintaining the strength we have now become used to, this lot was always expected to perform well and it scooped the day’s top price, selling for an equally mighty £4,800.
It certainly seemed that, like the 1980s game show, everyone was ‘going for gold’. Other top performers amongst gold were a yellow metal heavy figaro link bracelet, stamped '585', weighing 40.2g approx., which sold for £1,700, and a 9ct gold belcher chain, with an associated 9ct gold T-bar on spare links, attached a rubbed guinea, which sold for £1,200. Amongst coins, it was also gold that, like cream, rose to the top; a Charles III gold sovereign three-coin set, 2024, commemorating Sir Winston Churchill, consisting of sovereign, half sovereign, and quarter sovereign, sold for £1,050. Elsewhere in the Jewellery section a sapphire and diamond cluster ring, the white metal shank stamped 18ct and weighing 6g gross approx. sold for £450
Silver prices have also seen extraordinary leaps in recent months leading to impressive hammer prices and this day was no exception. Leading the way, a George V silver kettle and stand, sponsor's mark of Walker & Hall, Sheffield 1935, which sold for £800. That figure was just ahead of a Victorian silver salver with pie-crust and shell rim, hallmarked London 1866, which sold for £750. A George V silver three-piece coffee set weighing 670g approx. sold for £640, whilst a Victorian silver trophy cup weighing 680g approx. sold for £620. Just proving the buoyant state of the silver market at the moment, a George V silver sugar caster, sponsor's mark of Garrard & Co Ltd, London, 1917, 435g approx. sold for a very sweet £400.
A glance through other extremely healthy hammer prices on the day is to prove the highly eclectic nature of Clevedon’s ever-popular Interiors sales. Along the way were a few surprises, chief of which was a quantity of Wedgwood ‘Wild Strawberry’ pattern dinner and coffee wares which made short work of its estimate to sell for a remarkable £400. Modern design was well-represented by the classic David Booth and Judith Ledeboer for Gordon Russell Ltd - 'Helix' mahogany and Bombay Rosewood veneer sideboard. A perennial favourite amongst fans of Mid-Century, it presented some condition issues but still performed remarkably well, selling for £380. More traditional tastes were also catered for. An 18th century crossbanded oak dresser base, with three frieze drawers over shaped apron, sold for £460, whilst an oak three-drawer sideboard or dresser base, possibly French, sold for £320.
The next few weeks sees Clevedon Salerooms’ calendar chock-full of events, with a valuation at St Peter’s Hospice superstore in Portishead on Tuesday 5th May, another of our popular Stoke Lodge valuation days takes place on Tuesday 26th May, between those two dates, the next Interiors sale is Thursday 21st May. The Summer Fine Art will take place on Thursday 11th June, for which entries are now invited.