As regular readers will know I always keep an eye on the catalogue produced by our local auction house (who naturally also do house clearance). Over the years they have produced some corkers by way of inappropriate or ambiguous descriptions, strange things and odd combinations of “miscellaneous toot” into a single lot. It’s not always the strangeness of what they sell but the perversity of the combinations which amuse me. One wonders who buys the stuff.
But they must have been reading here because since I’ve been writing about these oddities their descriptions have improved greatly in quality. Maybe they’re just going up-market. So the catalogue for their upcoming sale ha produced fewer amusements than usual. However there are a few …
A World War II leather flying helmet, marked Frank Bryan Ltd 1939, a German military wristwatch — Urofa 58 668903, and a German dagger with stag horn handle in leather scabbard.
A tin containing old clay pipes.
Two bowler hats, a quantity of Royal Worcester Evesham, Sylvac Fauna jug, Wellington china tableware, yellow, black decoration, two metal figurines on marble base; Homepride flour man, Villeroy & Boch ware, egg coddlers, etc.
A pair of antlers, two pairs of binoculars, convex mirror with gesso frame, carved box, fur coat and stole, metal mesh handbag, framed map, silver plate items including teapot, serving spoons, ladles, etc.
A tribal animal skin shield, two clubs and a spear.
A large carved wood tribal mask with bone inlay, and a metal cow bell.
A large brass eagle.
A percussion cap musket, 18th/19th century.
A reproduction Black Forest cuckoo clock, in elaborate carved wood case with revolving figures, three train movement.
A German rare porcelain satirical Suffragette tobacco jar with cover, modelled as a passionate female head and inscribed ‘I say Down with the Trousers’
A Clarice Cliff Bizarre plate …
A Baxter print of a portrait of Nelson in period mahogany frame
A foldable bike, trailer and stroller in one, apparently unused, a wine rack and two Samsonite suitcases.
A Crimplene drop waist dress, other ladies’ clothes, three pairs of boots, Sinclair miniature tv, perfumes, etc.
A charming mink shoulder shrug …
A silk Victorian mourning dress and poke bonnet, consisting of cape/jacket, laced bustle, waistcoat, lace mob cap and silk material remnant.
Four cartons including old hats, metal figures, Steins, marble table lamps, an early German medical box, dressing table items, barometer, carved figure of an immortal, old beer pumps, old newspapers, horse figures, a lead bear, cigarette lighter missing strike, a carved water buffalo, storks, a crumb brush, whisky water jug, convex mirror, etc.
Having said that they do also have some rather nice things. The upcoming sale has a large number of lots of what looks like rather good antique silverware.
Seen today on a tub of MYCIL Foot Powder:
Book titles can be an endless source of fascination. What makes a good title? When does an amusing title work and when does it just become droll. Why do publishers change your amusing or off the wall working title into something more descriptive but boring? Isn’t Blue Poodles a much better title than The Semiotic Use of Color in Californian Dog Parlours? 
There is a 
Information doesn’t really have a life. I guess it can be forgotten, but as long as it is copied it won’t be.