Our final sale of the winter programme proved to be by far our most successful February sale. Our auctioneer Paul Clark explained “February can at times be a quiet month for the saleroom but we have been very well supported by our customers this year & this has produced a fantastic sale with great returns for many sellers” adding “having two sales on the same day proved a real hit with buyers too”.
The sale saw some amazing results with an 18ct gold Cartier brooch scaling the heights at £3600, £1000 more than a leading London saleroom achieved on like for like. Cartier are one of the most desired jewellery makers the world has known & a second piece, a three tone 18ct gold bracelet from the same household, achieved £3800 via the internet. Fine jewellery is very popular at the Liskeard saleroom, both locally & worldwide & a Gents Rolex Datejust watch made £3100 at the hammer when a room bidder outbid internet interest. A pair of tanzanite & diamond earrings have found a new home at £700 & a 1920’s silver spirit kettle made £1350 at the hammer, more than double its estimate.
There was good interest in the paintings too with a set of four unframed Julian Barrow oils making £780 at the hammer. A small wintry William Stone oil secured £120 whilst a watercolour by former Western Morning News naturalist Trevor Beer made £100. A small continental oil made speculative interest at £100 whilst a small oil on panel by Paul Prosper Tillier tripled its pre-sale estimate at £310.
Decorative furnishings are always desired. A 19thC. Italian walnut savonarola chair doubled its pre-sale guide when making £400 at the hammer whilst a modern gilt mirror in Victorian style, secured bids of £130. A classic Persian style wool runner, originally purchased at Harrods of London, made £330 at the hammer & a pair of investiture chairs didn’t need Royal approval to find a new home at £480.
Antique & collectable objects invariably have sound footing in the world of auctions. A George III mahogany cheese coaster was no exception at £100 & a treen snuff box with Forget Me Not spelt out in brass pins to the top had internet bids topping £190. A pair of early 18thC. Chinese shubunkin goldfish porcelain bowls had plenty of net interest at £310, this despite being in very poor condition & three Beswick ponies also caused a surprise when galloping to £220 at the hammer again despite damage.
On the back of a recent sale of rare southern hemisphere amulets saw entries of a c.1900 ceremonial dagger, probably from one of the islands (hammer £500) & a Papua New Guinea funereal boat (hammer £460), both finding bids in the room. A Coco De Mer nut or what is commonly known as a “bum nut” due to its similarity to the human posterior, soared way above expectations when making £330. A c.1840 French amethyst glass inkwell made £340 whilst an equally attractive Elliot of London clock with Chinoserie lacquer making £330.
Military items too have both a strong local & international following. A German WWII police helmet made £200 while a WWII Nazi SS dagger secured bids of £550 despite a few minor faults. A German tank driver camouflage shirt made £170 & a somewhat earlier French cuirassier helmet topping its estimate at £150. A pair of yacht race cannons had interest at £420 whilst a decorative floor standing cannon made £350. Entries invited for our next specialist Antiques, Collectables & Jewellery sale on March 26th.
