Thursday 31st May 2012 - Leamington Spa Auction Centre

March sale review

A few pleasant surprises were had at Locke & England’s recent antiques auction held on 29^th March. A local vendor consigned several items for sale including an Eastern metalwares filigree casket handed down through the family. The casket had been presented during the second world war as a racing trophy and the lid revealed an inscription reading “Won by Carntyne's Ballycurrenn Soldier, Scottish Greyhound Derby, 1942”. The piece was decorated with swirls and curved motifs in filigree which is a decorative technique reminiscent of lace and is usually made of silver or gold twisted threads. The superb quality of this casket mixed with the greyhound interest meant that it caused a storm on the day racing away at £5,800 to a newly registered buyer.

The most popular piece of furniture in the sale was a rosewood side cabinet inlaid with brass sunflower motifs that sold for £6,100. It was driven away from the saleroom sticking out of the top of an open sports car reminiscent of the opening sequence in The Antiques Roadshow programme causing much amusement in the saleroom!

Pictures of note were an 18^th century portrait of Admiral Tatham realising a respectable £1,300 and a pair of 19^th century Colonial school portraits on rice paper selling for £1,000.

A large Moorcroft section inevitably caused a stir with keen bidding obviously centred on the earlier pieces by Moorcrofts first employers at James McIntyre & Co. A miniature Florian ware vase painted with violets and measuring just 7.5cm high sold for £1800 nearly double the hammer price for a much larger Florian ware vase which sold for £750. Also of note within this section were three Moorcroft flambé ware berry pattern vases which made £900 on the day. The whole section sold well with only one of forty two lots failing to sell.

The works of art section is always strong with the most exuberant bidding being for a Leica camera with a selection of lenses and accessories in excellent condition which sold for £800 and a Victorian band master’s chest which sold for £700.

A large clock section attracted bidders far and wide with a Samual Ogden longcase selling for £1,900 amongst waterfall clocks, other longcases, mantle, bracket and carriage clocks. Smaller timepieces in the form of watches were popular with a Cartier 18ct gold lady’s wristwatch with a  diamond set bezel selling for £1,900. Also a Rolex 9ct gold gentleman’s wristwatch sold for £750. Other pieces of note included an 18ct gold solitaire diamond ring selling for £2,100 and an 18ct gold diamond and ruby set ring selling for £950. 

For entries into the next Antiques and Collectables auction on 31^st May, please contact Emmeline Jarrey on (01926) 889100.

Catalogues 
Illustrated catalogues are available for all Antique and Specialist sales. (£5.00 by post). These sales can also be viewed on–line 10 days prior to the auction.

Entries 
Entries are accepted up to three weeks prior to a Specialist sale or by prior arrangement, please contact the nearest office for further details.

Condition Reports 
Condition reports and further images of lots are available for this sale via the-saleroom.com
We regret that we are unable to process requests for condition reports received after 1.00pm on the day preceding the sale

Regular Valuation Days are held in the saleroom for clients wishing to include items in the sale

ENTRIES NOW INVITED FOR NEXT SALE

Future sale dates include:
Leamington Spa  - 26th July
Leamington Spa  - 27th September
Leamington Spa  - 29th November