We’ve not had any amusements and oddities from our local auction house for a while, largely because the last few sales haven’t thrown up anything really spectacular. Anyway here are the few highlights(?) of the recent sales. Any childish and inappropriate amusement is, of course, entirely in your brain!
Interesting old ivory including binoculars, a circular box, a bone card case with metal inlay, a desk clock, a glass paperweight, a Wills cigarette tin with a picture of the Queen, etc., and a tin containing miniature Nazi paper flags, etc.
A box of curiosities including a German cut-out 3D ‘theatre’ with actors, in original box, a pair of miniature shoes, an old purse, a chain-mail miser’s purse, two wartime handkerchiefs, a pin doll, an old notebook, military badges, an old lock, cigarette holder, etc., all in a fabric-covered box
Two miniature tortoiseshell guitars, a mandolin and a banjo
A 19th century portrait miniature of a child in a papier mache frame …
I wanted to know what the child was in a papier maché frame!
A vintage hand held fire extinguisher, a small box of vintage medicines in bottles and boxes and a Christmas fairy
Three modern large glass ornaments modelled as horns on metal stands
A replica ancient Greek helmet in steel and brass with black bristle cresting, on stand
A novelty metal garden seat in the form of a nodding dog
A large quantity of assorted fabrics, some on rolls, scraps, throws, cushion covers, needlework items, patterns, buttons, buckles, etc., also a small quantity of ladies accessories including a skin handbag, gloves, etc., two vintage costume dolls and a modern doll, a stuffed cat doorstop, etc.
A child’s rocking chair with stirrups …
An early 20th century instrument, possibly medical, an early photograph of a seated gentleman the frame marked, 58 Strand, a Victorian mahogany box of draughts and two large watermarks one of Darenth Mills Dartford and a portrait of Haile Selassie, etc.
Carved woodpecker inkwell …
A good shelf of African wooden tribal wares including bowls, spears, drums and benches
Which was followed by …
A good lot of wooden African tribal art including carved busts, figurines, bowls, jugs, paddles etc.
A Chinese late Qing Dynasty wood carving of three Buddhistic lions finished in red lacquer, with painted verso, in modern gilt frame, and a pair of native African throwing spears
A Timor horse skull mask incised with geometric decoration
An Eco 4 mobility scooter and battery which can be folded up into a car and transported
Ah yes, the patent folding battery.
Over 600 used golf balls
A decorative modern oil on board, of a Bible clutching a nun
A wooden boxed travelling chess set and board, a New Home sewing machine and two heated servers
A modern gilt framed flower fairies plaque marked spurious Minton on the back
A vintage oak wine barrel, a pair of vintage dog nut crackers and a decorative brass fish
Is cracking a dog’s nuts not classed as cruelty?
Seventeen vintage milk bottles including D Wilson & Sons and Lyndley Dairy, two vintage fire buckets and fire extinguisher, a Gordon wrench set in red metal case and other vintage tools …
Six boxes of terracotta plant pots in various graduating sizes
Yes, they really were used clay flowerpots.
A Celmac new ceramic toilet and seat
A charming Edwardian silver toasting fork with turned wood handle, with silver suspension loop, Sheffield 1908, together with a pair of late Victorian silver-plated and oak salad servers fashioned as gardening implements
More anon …