The privately consigned early George III rococo-style caddy made by Daniel Smith & Robert Sharp – better known for larger scale objects such as trophies – was decorated with embossed floral and C-scroll decoration. Dated London 1762 the 61/4in (16cm) piece sold at £750.
Decorative appeal makes all the difference to private buyers and a Victorian sugar bowl with an engraved openwork frieze of roses and matched blue glass liner, Birmingham 1899, was secured by a collector at £260.
While there were no four-figure entries among the spoons, a private buyer scooped up a late 17th century trefid example at £250 – recently unearthed by the private vendor.
Greenslade Taylor Hunt specialist Michelle Webb noted a continuing increase in demand for Continental metal wares and an 1830s Russian parcel silver-coloured metal cream jug, 1839 stamped AT went to the trade at £400.
And it was down to a pair of Georgian candelabra to break the £1000 barrier. With married upper and lower sections by Roberts, Sheffield, 1812, and Settles, Sheffield, 1817, it sold at £1500.
Although the 1971-lot auction totalled £163,000 and included jewellery and furniture entries, silver saw the strongest bidding and some of the biggest surprises.
An under-estimated £50-90 on a 19th century silver vinaigrette was taken to £720 while a 19th century silver coloured filigree scent bottle was knocked down at £400.
Caddy at £750 reflects current tastes
UK: AS with spoons, silver takes on an extra glow in the currently buoyant market for tea caddies an example of which came up at the April 26/27 sale at Taunton held by Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s (15% buyer’s premium).
