Another of our occasional round-ups of the odd nd amusing from amongst the lots at our local auction house. As usual it is both the strange things people sell (and presumably buy) as well as the juxtapositions which amuse.
A large portrait of a Hippie girl with long auburn hair by Hubert Pattison (?), signed and dated 1973, wearing a large hat trimmed with feathers and a patterned waistcoat, watercolour, gilt frame
Why was Hubert Pattison weraing a large hat trimmed with feathers and a paterned waistcoat, and how do we know?
A carton containing boxes of old nick-nacks, Ogden’s snuff, an Ideal typewriter rubber, silver plated cutlery including knife rests, a roulette wheel, manicure items, a mending mushroom, etc.
A Lapis Lazuli miniature trinket box, two porcelain boxes in the form of a sombrero, a Dresden miniature dish and other box in the form of a hayrick.
Every home really should have a collection such as this!
A taxidermy display of a mallard duck and a kingfisher, in a glazed cabinet.
Three Guinness shoe brushes, two decorative duck brushes, five oriental figures, porcelain clock, Wade narrow boat, four TG Green soup bowls, crested ware submarine, five Carltonware dishes and two spoons, a large plastic magazine rack, etc.
Twenty-three stoneware bottles, some advertising ginger beer, Strand Brewery, etc., two old soda siphons and three old glass bottles.
A sex of six glass rummers and six smaller, a quantity of further drinking glasses, two decanters and other glassware.
Emphasis mine.
A colourful tribal carved mask, two small silver picture frames, Sheffield plated small hip flask, a Russian monocular … a four-draw brass telescope, a pair of Trinoyix 8×30 binoculars in leather case, an Orange Brinovega fold-away radio, a fez, etc.
A small early 20th century Continental mantel garniture, of portico timepiece and pair of urns, in wood with gilt metal mounts.
Who ever talks about garniture?
A Victorian cricket bat, stamped Scarlett Windsor, and inscribed “Brocas Eton Augst 30th 1861″, in glazed display case.
Emphasis mine.
A 19th century Russian icon depicting St George with part-sheathed sword against a tooled gold ground.
Now that could be misinterpreted!

A large pottery figure of a surprised naked girl seated on a stripy fish, signed Icnel, 15-25ins H. and a fish shaped vase with putto, signed G GIRARDI 127 Italy.
Seven antelope skins and a box of assorted purses, key rings, etc. made from similar hide.