The best money of the 2160-strong sale was taken by a French bronze figure of an armourer by Andre Masjoulle. The 21in (53cm) high signed figure had a hammer in his hand beating a shield on a stake anvil. The bronze had been displayed at the French Salon between 1878-99 and is illustrated on p.464 of Schiffer’s Bronzes of the 19th century. Estimated at £2000-3000, the figure got away at £4180. The same money was taken for a rare, little-used 16 1/2in (42cm) steel Norris A1 panel plane with rosewood infill and handle.
Elsewhere, an original and little used set of 90 beech planes by John Green c.1790, which had been kept together for more than 200 years and found in a cabinetmaker’s chest with the inscription Presented by the Great Nieces of John Adin of Derby 1788-1867, found favour. Estimated at £2000-3000, the set was hotly contested by an American phone bidder but eventually fell in the room to a UK collector at £3960.
Bronze beats the rest
WHILST the rest of the antiques trade has taken a marked downturn, niche collecting areas remain largely unaffected. This was proved when the March 29 sale held by David Stanley Auctions (10% buyer's premium), specialist Leicestershire tool auctioneers, went on to be one of their best ever.
