Gold, Gromits and Great Results: July’s Sale in Review

Six of our expert auctioneers took to the rostrum during the seven-hour sale, where high turnout and high interest led to exciting bidding and surprising results.

‘Pearls are always appropriate’, the words of Jackie Kennedy were evidently ringing in the saleroom on Thursday, as a Mikimoto cultured pearl necklace with 18ct white gold clasp achieved an unusually high price. Bidders online and in-person drove the hammer price through its £200-£300 estimate, reaching a gleaming £1,100.

Elsewhere in jewellery, antique tastes drove excellent results. Victorian pieces were of particular interest, with a  Victorian opal and diamond yellow metal ring achieving £750, a seven-stone diamond bar brooch reaching £720, and a Victorian braided hinged 9ct gold bangle achieving £660.

All that glitters still demands attention; gold was once again the highest-achieving lot of the sale, with a four-piece gold proof sovereign set selling for £4,800. Following as the second highest sold price, an Elizabeth II gold 1oz Britannia coin, which achieved £2,600, demonstrating that the market for investment-grade gold pieces shows no signs of losing its lustre.

Estimates are called such for a reason, as it is impossible to predict how individual interest will translate into sale results. Most evident was this the case during the sale of a Carlton Ware ‘Jazz’ pattern vase and cover, whose final hammer price of £980 dwarfed its initial estimate of £100 - £150 due to two online bidders battling for ownership. Taken in by valuer Ruby on a house visit, the pattern did appear to be rare in the secondary market; however, nobody could have predicted the colossal leap in price that only comes when two bidders allow competition to eclipse the estimate.

The ‘Jazz’ vase was not the only Carlton Ware piece that spiked interest; an ovoid vase in the ‘Awakening’ pattern also resulted in an incredible hammer price of £780, over its estimate of £80 – £120. Both vases went to different buyers; a fitting outcome, given the enthusiasm they inspired.

Gromits were unleashed into the saleroom on Thursday, as nineteen figures of the beloved Aardman creation fetched high prices on the rostrum. The ‘top dogs’ of the sale were a pair which included the figure ‘Watch out Gromit!’, designed by political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, whose paint-covered Gromit is reminiscent of another Bristol Legend’s piece, Banksy’s ‘Paint Pot Angel’. The figures raced to £300 at the sale, bidders were evidently eager to get their paws on them.

In pictures, breaking away from traditional media of oil and pastel, the highest-selling piece was Bristol Boulevard by Northern Irish artist Keith Drury, who uses 3D modelling to create vast and intricate cityscapes in a hazy neon rendering. Bristol Boulevard achieved a grand £350 during the sale, suggesting the future is looking bright for digital artistry.

Things are looking sunny at Clevedon Salerooms, where we are busy polishing off our catalogue for our next Interiors sale on July 23^rd, which will be online and available to view shortly.

Every Monday we host valuation days, where our valuers are available to investigate and advise on any pieces you may have. Want an opinion before packing the car? We also offer online valuations from your pictures and will provide you with an estimate for auction.