There was a distinctly futuristic vibe to Clevedon’s recent Interiors sale on Thursday April 11th, where amongst the star lots of the day was a space age robot.
Looking for all the world like a visitor from the distant future, the object in question heralded from 1960s Japan, a Yonezawa battery operated 'Space Explorer' No.802, with its original box. Mirroring that era’s ‘white heat of technology’ Japanese toy robots have been a hot collectors’ field for some time. This particular example might have had its sights on intergalactic domination but as it was had to settle for the Kenn Road Auction Centre. A volley of bids quickly took its estimate to infinity and beyond and it sold to an online bidder for £800. That impressive result came a long way short of the day’s best performing lot. That accolade went to a group of Continental porcelain plates bearing painted Sevres style marks, which sold for £1,400. Also in the Ceramics section and making short work of its estimate, a quantity of 18th century Delft and delftware which included a wet drug jar which despite significant condition issues set pulses racing with two determined bidders taking it well past its estimate to sell for £1,100.
As is customary at Clevedon Salerooms it was Jewellery which opened proceedings. Where there was ample evidence that bidders were responding to particularly strong gold prices. Leading the way a yellow metal two-tone 'honeycomb' link bracelet, which sold for £900, just ahead of a Modernist articulated fringed necklace, stamped 585 and weighing in at 31g approx, which sold for £850. Amongst the silver it was a canteen of Wallace Sterling flatware of approximately 1,800g that was the best seller, the gavel falling at £850. When it came to surprise results, as is so often the case, it was the Asian section which yielded two of the biggest. A Chinese watercolour scroll painting depicting a river landscape on cream damask backing, lacked any form of signature. Anonymity, however, did not stymie its success and it quickly defied expectations to sell for £1,000. It was a similar story with a 19th century Chinese silk wall hanging. Embroidered with floral and gilt thread decoration, it scored highly on the decorative front. This clearly appealed to bidders and it eclipsed its estimate, selling for £750.
Clevedon Salerooms next Interiors sale will be on Thursday May 2nd. The next Quarterly Fine Art sale, for which entries are now invited, will be on Thursday June 13th.