No Crunch at Boldon!

The Autumn Fine Art and Antique Sale held in early September at Boldon Auction Galleries showed no sign of the current financial slump affecting many of the markets both here and abroad.

With a 90% selling rate in the porcelain and ceramics section the sale got off to a flying start.  An unusual novelty nursery rhyme teapot estimated at £40 - £60 realised £200 surprising buyers in the room.  A Private collection of Troika taken from a house in Peterlee originally purchased in the 1970’s as holiday trinkets whilst our client holidayed in Cornwall brought an abundance of

e-mail, enquires and telephone bidders.  A bronze glazed and unusually designed table lamp realised £600 and a double base shaped vase £400.

Local fare again proved popular with a varied selection of Sunderland lustre plaques making between £150 - £220 each.  A Rare Dawson’s Low Ford Pottery money pot c.1840 realised £200.

Another highlight was a small Wedgwood  Fairyland lustre circular bowl by Daisy Makeig-Jones, although cracked and badly stained sold for £340.  Fairyland lustre was produced by Wedgwood in the early 20^th Century and is extremely popular.

The Collector’s Section of the sale was strong with a Polyphone estimated at £250 - £350 selling for £1,100 and a Rosewood stick barometer by a local firm Rennison of Sunderland clocked off at £380.

A Corkscrew by Robert Jones spotted by the Auctioneer’s during one of our typical clearances in a client’s barn and contents brought ferocious bidding and finally the cork popped at an eye watering £980 to a bidder in the room.

A Collection of Swan Hunter photographs which had been featured in the Newcastle Journal newspaper made £720 and whilst on a Nautical theme a very large shipyard model made at William Doxford of Sunderland sailed off to a private collector in Italy at £2,500.

The popularity of all things railway related was demonstrated by a British Rail NE oak circular clock in need of full restoration and having been stored in a garage for 5 years, which sold for £650.

Silver, jewellery and gold were again strong with the gold scrap price still riding on the back of the World Markets.  We saw a silver 5 piece tea set sell at £450 and an Irish silver two handled cup £460.

A small Royal Worcester brooch by James Stinton valued by the Auctioneer in one of our mobile valuation sessions was sold at £360 and an extensive collection of gent’s wrist watches brought huge interest with a Rolex Air King making £780.

The Fine Art section was also buoyant with 3 oils by local artist F. Crosby making £650 and an engraving by William R. Flint £380.

Two large 19^th Century oil on canvas paintings consigned for a client on behalf of Newcastle Social Services proved extremely desirable with a painting After Caracci selling for £1,300 and a signed oil by W. Stuart with five phone lines and six commission bids left on the Auctioneer’s book prior to the sale realising £1,700.

The furniture section surprised the Boldon Auctioneers with this area of the market being the most challenging at the current time.  A Mousey Thompson of Kilburn, North Yorkshire stool made £370, a Fine Edwardian satinwood secretaire display cabinet £920, a good quality George III style card table £1,100 and an Edwardian Corner cabinet £1,450.

Finally a set of 12 hotly contested William IV mahogany dining chairs in need of restoration were knocked down to a buyer from the Emerald Isle at £3,100.

Our next Fine Art and Antique Sale will be held on Wednesday 17^th December and is already shaping up with Whitefriars glass, good quality and interesting selection of furniture as well as a Morris Minor to remind us of a much simpler bygone era.

At a time of uncertainty and insecurity you can continue to rely upon Boldon Auction Galleries to provide you with an efficient and professional service whether buying or selling.

Best wishes,

Giles, Caroline and all staff at Boldon Auction Galleries

Autumn 2008