January Interiors Sale Report

Leading the way was a 9ct charm bracelet sold for £660, and a group of gilt desk seals at £520. With gold prices increasing, sovereigns were selling at £290-300, and an example in 9ct pendant mount with chain sold for £500 [LOT 82].
In the silver section, an impressive Edwardian rose bowl weighting just over 1kg displayed a hefty bruise to the foot – not enough to deter competing bidders, who pursued it to a double-estimate £920 [LOT 135].

                                          
Collectors’ Items always throws up an eclectic mix, and the varied lots this time included a group of stereoscopic viewing cards featuring an early view of China, which attracted online attention to sell for £500, and a good collection of stamps sold for £700. Three 20^th Century Chinese porcelain figurines also surprised – although not antique, the three ‘Star Gods’ – Fu, Lou and Shou Xing, representing Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity, are desired by Chinese buyers due to the good luck they are said to bring. Accordingly, they sold for £400 [LOT 612].
It was furniture which provided many of the pleasant surprises in the sale. The trend for ‘retro’ shows no signs of slowing, as a McIntosh of Kirkcaldy dining suite sold well, the sideboard achieving £460 [LOT 614] and the table & chairs £360. More traditional furniture also fared well, with a painted Tyrolean-style chest achieving a triple-estimate £420 and an inlaid mahogany chest of drawers £300.

The next few weeks sees intense activity, with a valuation day on Tuesday 9^th February at Stoke Lodge Bristol, followed by an Interiors sale on 17^th February. Our next quarterly Fine Art & Antiques sale will be on Thursday 10^h March. Highlights include an Irish George III mahogany silver table estimated at £1,000-1,500, a highly collectable Whitefriars ‘Banjo’ vase estimated at £1,000-1,200, and a rare set of Victorian Royal Worcester politician figures, estimated at £2,000-3,000.