Jackpot! Summer Specialist Sale Delivers Winning Results

One of the many star collector's items from the sale was an early 1960s Jennings 'Governor' one-arm bandit 'tic-tac-toe' slot machine, which bidders were keen to take a gamble on. Fruitful competition resulted in a final hammer price of £1,200, exceeding its estimate. 

In our sale of pictures, exceptional works by celebrated artists made for big returns. Francois Etienne Muslin’s colossal battle painting titled A Naval Engagement saw the highest price in this section, reaching its mid-estimate at £3,800. It was a good day for maritime paintings, as our second highest picture was by Charles Ernest Cundall, RA (1890-1971), titled 'Fishing Boats, Honfleur'. Recognised by Mark Huddleston on a house visit, the piece instantly drew attention in our catalogue. As Cundall was best known for his large panoramic canvases, the opportunity to acquire a more modestly sized example of his work clearly appealed to his collectors. The piece sailed through its estimate of £400-£600, reaching £3,400 on the rostrum.

Also of nautical interest, a star-studded script of Titanic (1997), signed by director James Cameron and his leads, made waves in the saleroom upon its consignment and went on to sell for £620. Valuer and auctioneer Henry Michallat reflected on the excitement generated by the piece, which came from a single-vendor collection built over many years, saying, “This was a really perfect, affordable piece for a fan.”

Time is indeed money; our highest overall hammer price of the auction was achieved by a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 18ct gold bracelet watch at an incredible £9,000. Silver came in second with a late Victorian silver gallery tray, weighing a hefty 6450g, selling for £8,000.

From antique pieces to avant-garde designs, there was truly something for every bidder in our jewellery and watches portion of the sale. Of particular note was lot 63, a beautiful Edwardian turquoise, pearl, diamond and moonstone pendant necklace, which fetched £2,600.

Strong prices were not confined to jewellery alone. A single-owner collection of coins saw great returns at our Summer Specialist Sale, with three lots including an Elizabeth II sovereign gold proof five-coin set achieving £5,000 or more, demonstrating that the market for well-curated collections remains robust.

With two sales in July and our Autumn Specialist Sale in September, we continue to consign exquisite pieces every week. Come along to one of our next valuation days to discover the potential value of your treasured items and learn how our expert team can help you achieve the best possible results at auction.