Novelty items to bring cheer in the new year
04 January 2021 There are times when you just want something a bit quirky. These lots have it covered nicely.
This pair of novelty silver frog salt and pepper pots from the late 1980s are estimated at £300-£400 at Woolley & Wallis on January 26-27.
Novelty items can be found in many auctions. Sometimes there may be a few objects in a large auction - so it pays to rummage around in online catalogues - and other times a major collection of novelties is sold in one auction.
Those sales are particularly exciting for novelty-lovers who can see how a like-minded collector has amassed a set of items over many years.
Here is a selection of novelties coming for sale this month, including some from specialist collections.
Foxy
A novelty fox silver pin cushion.
The Quarterly Fine Sale at Bearnes Hampton Littlewood in Exeter on January 26-28 features an extensive collection of novelty silver pin cushions. These can be very popular with collectors who are hoping to fill a gap in their collection by finding that rarity that has so far eluded them.
This Edwardian fox pin cushion dates from 1907 and has an estimate of £200-£300.
Use a dog to call a dog
A novelty silver dog whistle on offer at auction on January 16.
A good selection of novelty objects can be found in the Jewellery, Watches and Silver sale at Elstob & Elstob in Ripon on January 16.
This silver dog whistle is just that: a whistle in the shape of a dog. It has an estimate of £40-£60.
What's in the box?
A novelty silver jewellery box.
This Edward VII silver jewellery box was made by William Comyns & Sons, and is hallmarked for London 1901.
It is in the form of a dressing table and embossed on the domed centre is a picture of a couple and a child in rural setting, showing how much work the silversmith must have put into making this unusual item.
The box measures 22.6cm wide and is estimated at £800-£1200 in the same sale at Elstob & Elstob on January 16.
A ticking guitar
A novelty clock in the form of a stringed instrument.
This late nineteenth century clock is in the form of a guitar and will bring a smile to anyone who glimpses it on a mantelpiece.
It is estimated at £100-£200 in a timed sale at Hutchinson Scott which ends on January 9.
Don't shoot
A novelty silver toothpick and pencil.
This early Victorian novelty silver pistol pencil and toothpick set was made by S. Mordan, and is engraved 6 July 1840.
It has an estimate of £400-£600 in the Silver & Objects of Vertu sale at Woolley & Wallis on January 26-27.
A stable companion
A mid 20th century novelty equestrian ice bucket.
This ice bucket has an equestrian theme with a horse's head on top, a horse shoe on the front and stirrups to the sides.
You can bid for it on January 6 in the live sale at Golding Young & Mawer.
Take on a new roll
A 1970s novelty silver brooch.
This novelty silver brooch designed as a toilet roll and mirror has a hallmark for 1974 and a maker's mark for 'JLB'.
Wear it proudly on your next Zoom call if you are the successful bidder at the Bishop & Miller auction on January 20.
The estimate is £40-60.
To learn more about similar objects read our guide to silver novelty items.