More strange juxtapositions from our local auction house; as so often the sting is in the tail. My heart sinks whenever I see words like “interesting”, “unusual”, “mixed”, “impressive” or “decorative” because you know what follows is going to be miscellaneous toot.
A mixed lot to include an oval tray with glass bottom set with butterflies, Hon. Artillery Company notebooks, an autograph book, Boots the Chemist cylindrical cardboard box, Nymph ladies’ razor set, etc.
A collection of loose stamps, mainly UK from Victoria on, some in part sheets, also USA and other countries and an early pair of ski boots
A collection of ethnic wooden carvings including men in a boat, a figure of an Oriental man, two busts, face masks, etc.
A decorative lot to include an onyx and brass floor-standing ashtray, three enamelled trinket boxes, vases, six Faberge glasses with bird decoration to the stems, a tureen in the form of a duck and a collection of various plates
A Mills bomb grenade number 36M, an ARP whistle, three cased razors, one by Wilkinsons [sic] Sword
Approximately three hundred thimbles, mainly in display cases, including those made of china, glass and enamelled, encompassing commemorative, Disney and religious
A quantity of old photographs in wooden frames, an old blood pressure machine, vintage wrapping paper, a quantity of items including binoculars, box Brownie cameras, decorative mantel clock, wooden bowls, a framed mirror, folding table, a pair of small footstools
A vintage Bugs Bunny pull-string soft toy and an old teddy bear
A collection of African and Indonesian wall masks depicting deities and others, a large wall fan depicting a rural village scene and a decorative bow and arrow
A Neato XV21 new and boxed pet and allergy vacuum, plus a glass yard of ale
A collection of vintage tins and items including Oxo, a Betty Boop wooden cut-out, and two 1950s/60s wooden cut-out tray holders and bases including that of a ballerina and another of a Hawaiian lady, brass ornaments including horses, a turned wood-handled warming pan, a Sparklets soda fountain, cased tennis racket and other interesting items
Three shelves of boxed Asian dolls and figurines, plus Indonesian wall masks, decorative wooden elephants, figurines, boxes, etc.
A Bolex Paillard movie camera, a Kodak Retinette camera, boxed prawn cocktail set, a collection of part tea services, two silver-plated goblets and silver-plated box, Royal Adderley flower ornaments, cake plate and matching servers, a boxed sewing machine, camera case, a brass companion set and irons, etc.
Two similar impressive two-handled [sic] swords with ornate brass hilts and turned grips, 64 and 66 ins
[They mean “two-handed” and they were obviously made for display purposes]
A collection of mainly 19th century glassware and pewter, comprising: eight various rummers, a Nailsea-type rolling pin, Bohemian amber beaker, a roemer, blue float, two sugar crushers, four Georgian pewter plates, two mugs, two prize-loving cups, mustard pot, stopper, Indian copper spoon and a hardwood club
An impressive Italian reproduction clock garniture in marble and gilt and bronzed metal, the clock with German mechanical movement, the side pieces as candelabra for five lights
[This, together with the following item (both pictured) are about the most hideous things I’ve seen in a very long time]

 
A pair of elaborate Japanese bronze vases, each with dragon handles and bird panels, with detachable necks…
A set of vintage pine stepladders and a vintage pine stool, also a Stanley 2 3/8 inch boxed plane and a Marcons heavy metal iron
[Guess what, the step-ladders look like old-fashioned wooden, paint-splattered rickety step-ladders, like the ones your father had in the shed and which are probably safest in the tip!]
A hydraulic palette truck/lifter
A good selection of items including vintage tennis racquets, a small collection of brass animals by Manuhm, an old child’s toy dachshund in original box, an Imari plate, oil on canvas, picnic basket, vintage cricket set, walking canes and sticks, one with a silver top
A pair of watercolours of exotic birds, a vintage golf bag and clubs, a Windsor voltometer, two Pathe vintage projectors, and box, a brass jam pan, leather attache case, metal cash box, etc.
Two vintage part-metal signs, one Rowntrees(?), with royal warrant for HM the King, the second a brewer’s sign, and a mirror
[“part-metal” = pieces of metal!]
Hallmarked silver coaster, silver bladed fruit knife ‘the Metropolitan’, a whistle by J Hudson and Co, Birmingham, Military badges, a silver pencil case and bracelet, a small quantity of jewellery, decimal coins and an old chocolate tin containing a photograph memoriam cards, 1937 Coronation map, an old premium bond etc.
A mid 20C bedroom chair with a 5 sided back upholstered in a funky floral fabric…
Well, OK, I’ve seen a lot worse; at least there are no badly stuffed ferrets. Although there is enough alcohol to float a battleship and enough cigars to keep Winston Churchill going for several lifetimes.

I suspect all my friends who are parents will appreciate this …

This, from Private Eye

Seen today on Facebook …

Here’s the latest in the odd and eccentric from our local auction house catalogue. Sadly on this occasion there are no stuffed capybara, but there is …
A large oil portrait of a gentleman seated half-length with a cello and bow, wearing a blue jacket, white stock and frilled cuffs …
[What sort of eccentric dresses his ‘cello?]
A large William IV gilt chimney glass with scrolling leaf and flower decoration
[WTF? Oh it’s a mirror.]
A collection of South or Central American stone carvings, Pre-Columbian or later, comprising a large mask, a dagger, an engraved fragment, a ring, and seven other small pieces
[Well that covers a multitude of sins. Basically we have no clue what date they are; could be anything from the Creation to yesterday.]
Tribal art African hardwood elephant seat on carved base
A vintage Japanese ‘sit up and beg’ bicycle ‘Tomtom Fruits’ by Shiga Maruishi No. 89416632
[No, even having seen a photo, it doesn’t make sense to me either!]
A quantity of picture frames, a leather travelling make up case from Harrods, photo frames, plant pots, glass jars, a stacking system of shelves, Laurel & Hardy fridge magnets, crafting items
Five boxes of chilled packaging
[Didn’t know they had a cold store!]
Two shelves of general items including photo frames, flower pots, kitchenalia, a Carltonware Oriental pot, old biscuit tins, crafting colouring items, etc.
[You know you have to worry when you see etc. in a lot description.]
Five suitcases of varying sizes, a quantity of briefcases and sports bags, three small deed boxes and a money tin, a quantity of files, a set of jump leads, etc.
A wooden model sailing boat, a quantity of wooden jewellery boxes, some in oriental style with brass mounts, a silver-plated hipflask, a quantity of animal figurines, revolving wooden hors d’oeuvres set, a Grecian bust on stand, a quantity of Christmas decorations including a snow globe and a wooden Christmas tree ornaments in the shapes of Russian dolls, a Villeroy and Boch Father Christmas trinket box plus others, two Maling lustre bowls and a quantity of American Geographical Society’ Around The World’ programmes including Russia and Venezuela, etc.
[We had this pile of old toot and didn’t know what to do with it.]
A cased Rummy game, two Wedgewood collectors plates, three 1940s Film Award annuals and a cased car DVD player
A small table, the octagonal top interestingly covered in copper and acid etched with leaves and a tray with a display of butterfly wings
[All in the best possible taste.]
A collection of various items including an Imperial -Good Companion cased typewriter, a small quantity of cameras including a Diodem box No2 and Kodak, an old suitcase with original labels including Cunard White Star, a pair of brass candlesticks and a copper warming canister in oak stand

A cast iron unicorn door stop (above)
A large milk churn, hand painted decoration by a local Mouth-artist, a folding garden parasol on hardwood frame and a nest of three metal framed glass topped coffee tables with map inserts
[More great taste!]
A shelf of decorative clown ornaments

A modern musical box surmounted by an elaborate model drum kit, under Perspex cover (above)
A late 19th century Concert Roller Organ, in mahogany with stencilled decoration, with eighteen rollers (below)
[Now that really is interesting; I’ve never seen one of these before.]

An early 19th century set of hand-coloured engraved cards of the Kings of England, in mica paper slip case, a Sallis’s Illustrated Game of Doctor Busby, in original slip case, and a miniature 1871 Royal Wedding edition of The Graphic
A garden ornament of probably Venus, well patinated
A stained glass fire screen, incorporating pieces of old possibly Cathedral glass interposed with newer pieces
A child’s toboggan with metal frame, wooden legs and wooden slats for sitting on, lot also includes a large toy lion with green eyes, pale yellow ochre coat and pale mane
Not the most interesting of sales, although it also contains a quantity of ceramic which sound boring and look hideous.