Marked for Chester, 1909, the creature’s articulated head and tail struck a chord with bidders, one of whom took it at £1750.
More familiar silver, but with an extra selling factor, was a pair of salts made to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 which brought a winning £1000 bid.
Furniture, however, provided the highest price among the 1333 lots generally aimed at buyers on budget.This was a pair of Edwardian Sheraton Revival demi lune side tables inlaid with panels of satinwood and neoclassical marquetry which sold at £3600.
Novelty rings a bell with silver buyers
GENERAL silver remains a quiet market but novelty material is booming as shown when this 51/2in (14cm) silver-encased desk bell by Gy & Co,in the form of a tortoise, was offered at the July 17,18 sale held at Aylsham, by Keys (10% buyer’s premium).
