THE quality of the Salisbury sales held by Woolley & Wallis (15% buyer’s premium) has been previously mentioned in these pages of late and the 470-lot May 10 event was a case in point. Billed as a furniture, clocks and works of art sale, there were highlights across the sections, including a William IV rosewood chaise longue with a wonderful scroll end at £3200 and a 10 1/2in (27cm) blue john urn with re-gilded ormolu mounts at £2600.
The talking point, however, was the way pieces less often seen
at auction captured the interest of buyers and went way over
estimates. One was a Regency colonial ebony settee, found in the
cellar of a retired admiral's house in Portsmouth which took £4000
against hopes of £600-800, illustrating, the huge revivial of
interest in campaign and colonial items.
Another was a hall lantern of indeterminate age but of huge size
at 7ft 5in (1.96m). The six-sided country house lantern was
suspended from six scroll and leaf mounted brackets and, against a
£2000-2500 estimate topped the day at £9000 going to a private
overseas buyer.
But most pre-sale enquiries at Salisbury centred on this 18th
century Tongan hardwood and ivory inlaid headrest, right.
Featuring arrowhead and lozenge designs, the 14 1/2in long, 8in
high (37 x 20cm) piece was estimated at up to £3000 but sold at
£8600.
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