Our local auction houses seem to have been quiet recently, perhaps because of not wanting to compete with all the summer festivities. But they have now sprung back into life with their usual eccentric mix of objets trouvés. Here are some choice spots from the latest sale.
A large collection of Dutch ‘peasant’ silver octagonal buttons, comprising five of probably 18th century date, including four with horse and rider design and one with a coat of arms and with various maker’s marks … a set of seven horse and rider examples of later date with dolphin tax marks; a set of three with OS maker’s marks; a pair of large size; another pair with AR marks, and two others – one with a stag, together with a lion badge and a figural terminal.
A Spanish … silver articulated swordfish with green eyes, a pair of small fish pepperettes of similar type, a pair of shell salts on associated loaded silver bases, and a metal porringer.
Two shelves including decorative carthorses, cottage teapot, a quantity of Midwinter Roselle tea and dinner ware, cut glass, book on knitting, etc.
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of selling things by the shelf. But they really do display the objects on labelled shelves.
A considerable quantity of as new and boxed items including a snooker table, electronic dart board, two folding beds, garden gate, rolls of hose, garden ornaments, solar lamps, kitchen tools, water features, and two spiral topiary trees, etc.
My mind is boggling slightly at the idea of boxing a snooker table.
A large heavy metal figure of a macaw on a stand replicating a tree stump, approximately 4’5″ tall.
A collage of stuffed birds: bullfinches, coal tit, greenfinch, chaffinch, etc.
A shelf and a half of wooden carvings, mainly tribal to include masks, flat faces, sculptures, busts, boxes and smaller implements
A wall mounted set of buffalo horns.
A stuffed blue Jay under glass dome
Four brown stoneware jugs and pots by Doulton, Lambeth etc., Framed, a blue glass dish, Staffordshire ogs, various other chinaware and figures, ‘The Ultra Lens’ boxed, black lacquered pots, a teddy bear riding a bicycle, didgeridoo-do, golf clubs, etc. Framed postcards: Colmans mustard, Wills ‘Gold Flake’ cigarettes, Championship lawn tennis Post, Huntley and Palmers, Bovril and Dunlop and a picture, Village cricket Nine gentleman in Waiting.
… but no kitchen sink!
A large bow with arrows and a large print of children with a horse.
The latter presumably as a target for the former.
A decorative sword in medieval style and a similar battle axe together with an Eastern dagger and scabbard and an Indian dagger.
A Rosenthal group of a putto and penguin disputing a crab, signed Ferd Liebermann
Two alligator skins, one including the head.
A 19th century Indian window surround of ornate carved design with painted decoration, and a panel of six candle holders.