|
BETTER TIMES AHEAD?
With the auction
at Wotton-under-Edge conducted in the days leading up to the
European Referendum, one wondered how this would affect the
outcome. In the event, while the result of the ballot surprised
many, the auction sailed through with interest in all areas.
The highest
price for the sale was taken for a continental table cabinet,
probably German, in very poor condition, having languished in a
local farmhouse (with pieces dropping off) for as long as anybody
could recall. The auctioneers were concerned that the condition
was so poor that it had gone too far to be of any serious
interest, the estimate of £200-£300, however, proved too cautious
with a winning bid of £2,000 from Germany via the internet.
A collection of
Georgian fire arms mounted as wall pieces for the last twenty five
years in a dining room, saw an early Brown Bess musket, a further
example, a pair of East Indian Company flintlock pistols and two
pocket pistols totalling £2,180. The silver and jewellery section
saw virtually every lot sold with some buying on the hunch that
the Brexit vote would win the day. Should that happen the value
of sterling would surely fall and investors would immediately
retreat to the safe haven of precious metals, this is often the
case in times of uncertainty. For instance two 9ct gold cigarette
cases, really of little use in today’s world, sold for £1,740.
Other objects of
interest included a stuffed and mounted pike at £530, a six foot
model of The Bismarck £420, a pair of Victorian oil paintings by B
Cook £600, and a Victorian extending mahogany dining table at
£820.
The next month’s
sale will include a really good selection of jewellery with an
emphasis on diamonds and emeralds, a collection of some ninety
paperweights, interesting equestrian oil paintings from the early
19th century and a very large collection of good garden
stoneware, troughs, statues and other ornaments being sent in from
as far away as Cardiff. These rooms seem to have built up a very
good name for being able to sell interesting outdoor effects.
This will be accompanied by a good collection of period oak
furniture.
The much
followed television antiques programme ‘Antiques Road Trip’ will
be in attendance filming the July sale of the contestants
purchases. As for the future? There will be changes ahead, the
pound is currently at its lowest point for some thirty years
against many currencies which will encourage foreign buyers
including the Americans, not really seen here in any number for
some years. Gold and silver prices have already risen steeply and
it will be an interesting few months ahead. Here at
Wotton-under-Edge we are positive that there will be renewed
interest in antiques and objects of quality of all types. The
next sale will be held on July 19th/20th and
the saleroom is filling well.
|
Lot 1452 - Sold
for £2,000
|
Lot 612 - Sold
for £1,420
|
Lots 227 & 228 - Sold
for £1,740
|
