Auction Reports

By serendipity rather than design, Dawson’s (20% buyer’s premium) August 26 sale in Maidenhead, Berkshire, included several fine Indian works of art. Just the type of entries appealing to a broad and informed audience that can help put a fledgling saleroom on the map (Dawson’s held its first sale this January).

Breathing quality, this 22ct gold, pocket watch, below, was by an apparently unrecorded maker but nevertheless pitched at a positive £3000-3200 at Tamlyns’ (18% buyer’s premium) sale at Bridgwater on August 30.

“Like a country house in miniature,” enthused Jody Beighton speaking of a two-bedroom Georgian cottage whose contents he and its owner catalogued before the August 19 sale at Paul Beighton (17.5% buyer’s premium).

A 1920s-30s 18ct gold Cartier cigarette lighter-cum-watch with black enamel dial was offered at Boningtons (17.5% buyer’s premium) at Epping on August 21.

Originally considered just another 20th century burr oak tallboy among a stack of material from a house clearance brought into the Hazel Grove rooms of Maxwells (15% buyer’s premium), opinions changed when a carved mouse was noticed on the lower left leg.

Shown here is the central medallion of a patchwork and appliqué quilt believed to have been produced by some patriotic sewer to mark the 1815 marriage of Princess Charlotte, the Prince Regent’s daughter, to Prince Leopold of Saxe- Coburg-Gotha.

A cavalry guidon (pennant) from the late 18th century is always likely to be rare – and rarer still if it is painted rather than embroidered.

So much more successful than their 18th century forebears, today’s Jacobites go from strength to strength.

Not quite perfect but always likely to exceed the £300-350 estimate, a Lalique powder bowl was one of the top sellers at Bamfords’ (19.5% buyer’s premium) August 2 sale at Derby.

Pieces with a maritime slant proved popular at the sale at Cowes held by HRD Auction Rooms (15% buyer’s premium) on August 3 during the yacht-fest that is Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight.

Three names prized by collectors helped this 19th century German train set, pictured, to top the 330 lots of toys and railwayana offered at the David Duggleby (20% buyer’s premium) sale at Scarborough on August 12.

Provincial sales throughout the summer were enlivened by big-money Chinese material but a more concentrated look at the market was afforded by the dedicated sale at Roseberys (20% buyer’s premium) on June 27.

Offered as a job lot, these 2¾in (7cm) tall Chinese cloisonné stemmed cups and tea bowl pictured here were entered into the August 15 sale at Stamford auction house Batemans (20% buyer’s premium) by a private vendor content with the £50-70 estimate.

Militaria has the advantage of a wide price range for items. A photograph sold in Cirencester on July 7 was a good example of ‘more affordable’ levels.

Made in various materials across the centuries, brush pots used by Chinese scholars are steady favourites at UK auctions and the blue and white porcelain example shown here was no exception when offered at Thomas Watson’s (17.5% buyer’s premium) sale at Darlington on June 20.

Tentatively catalogued as ‘18th-19th century German, possibly Meissen’, a porcelain figure of the Quack Doctor from the Cryes of London series was the surprise tonic at Reeman Dansie’s (20% buyer’s premium) August 1 Colchester sale.

With everything buzzing at Chiswick Auctions (22% buyer’s premium) ahead of the opening of the South Kensington showroom next week (see last week’s ATG No 2305), life at the west London rooms goes on providing a solid base for this ambitious expansion.

Catching the eye at the Oriental Sale at Cheffins (22.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge on August 10 were the two highly collectable 4¾in (12cm) tall gourd cricket cages shown here.

Recent country house contents sales at Chorley's, Halls and Hansons show that evolving the model is breathing new life into a traditional format.

This focus on furniture kicks off with a royal link and three more cheers at summer sales for the furniture market which a number of auctioneers are saying shows modest signs of recovery.