Clevedon Salerooms held their July Interiors sale on Thursday 13th at the Kenn Road Auction Centre, where over 600 lots went under the hammer - including part one of a large collection from a Probate in Redland, Bristol (with part two to be sold in the Specialist sale on 14th September). In all over 87% of lots sold, with a good number of buyers returning to the room on the day.
The sale marked the final one for Saleroom Assistant Nick Ball, retiring two days shy of his 65th birthday after a mere 38 years with Clevedon Salerooms - from its days in Herbert Road, through all of the last twenty years at the Kenn Road site. A warm round of applause preceded the selling of lot 1. Ruby Willmore has already joined the Saleroom staff and has settled in well, assisting with photographing around 6,000 images for each auction. A History graduate with a background in Antiquarian books, she has great potential to develop within an already strong team and is proving a hit with her colleagues.
The auction commenced with a strong Jewellery section. Gold continues to perform well with investors and collectors alike. As usual, this three-weekly auction contained a good selection of gold jewellery including a number of chains and necklaces. Leading the sale was a 9ct belcher-link long chain which made a top-estimate £1,200. Another long chain, this time in a rare Mariner link, sold for £700. Two watch Alberts, each set with a sovereign, sold for £900 and £880 respectively. An unusual gold pendant depicting the Egyptian hawk god Horus attracted £420 [LOT 66). A lovely selection of rings was on offer, including a three-stone diamond example sold for £460, a ruby and diamond cluster £440, and a diamond and emerald example at £400.
It wasn't just gold that glittered on the day. A Rolex Precision wristwatch attracted strong bidding to sell for £1,050 [LOT 113]. From the Redland collection, top price was £1,100 for a group of Chinese works of art, whereas two 20th Century Chinese vases also performed well to fetch £400. Other successes included a collection of Waterford crystal - with a table lamp selling for £420 and a pedestal bowl £240. Elsewhere, a group of Britains lead figures achieved £400.Auction day was notable for some strong bidding from the room.
Summer plans continue apace at Clevedon, with two sales in August, and an outside valuation event in Stoke Bishop, Bristol on Tuesday 15th August, the final entry day for the September sale. Recent instructions from as far afield as Peterborough and Poole have kept the auctioneers and clearance team busy through recent weeks, following the record-breaking Barrow Court sale, and Probate work from numerous local solicitors is also ever-increasing.