The year-going facility behind the arched silvered dial not only made this clock easy to maintain, but it was also rare and highly sought after. From the deceased estate of a clock dealer, it went at £15,000, to a local general dealer.
A post-war set of 12 Chippendale-style mahogany dining chairs topped the furniture at £4500, while an Edwardian satinwood armchair, with caned sides and a back inset with a painted panel of a child, soared past hopes of £750-1000 to bring £1800.
Surprise result of the sale was the £1000 bid for two black-painted tin railway lamps, marked London Brighton Railway and SRA, estimated at £40-60 because, says saleroom manager Kevin Smith, “that is how valuable these lamps normally are”.
Specialist appeal takes longcase to the top
Rising above all else at the Chichester sales held by Strides (15% buyer’s premium) on April 26 was this 9ft (2.74m) high, c.1800 mahogany longcase clock, right. In a market where decorative clocks are selling better than ever, this piece by Hardeman and Son of Bridge was a timely reminder that large, plain clocks can still do very well if they have an unusual movement.
