Its arched roof opened to reveal the attic rooms and it had hinged front compartments. Sadly, it was lacking any interior furnishings, but it was an impressive entry and fetched £1300.
Star turn of the 530-lot Gloucestershire outing was a handsome pair of George III mahogany card and tea tables consigned by a private London vendor. With rectangular tops, cabriole legs and pad feet, they were of good colour and in untouched condition, and sold to the trade at £5800.
The trade also secured a late 17th century oak dresser base at £5500 from a local private source, while the quality of a plain George III mahogany oval tea tray with reeded handles took it to £1100 against a £100-150 guideline.
Elsewhere, a Victorian silver clock barometer and compass in the form of a ship’s wheel on a marble and brass base, by the London maker Charles Stuart Harris, 1880, attracted both silver dealers and clock buyers. Similar examples using a silvered metal rather than silver tend to fetch around £400 but a silver dealer pursued this quality entry to £4000.
In the works of art section, the muscular physique of a large pair of early 19th century bronze wrestlers excited the interest of several buyers. Measuring 19in by 15in (48cm x 38cm), their £700-900 estimate was left standing when they sold on commission at £1750.
From a Welsh outbuilding and onto the doll property market
ANOTHER 19th century doll’s house was among the more collectable entries at Mallams Cheltenham's (15% buyer's premium) March 25 sale. Previously relegated to the outbuilding of a Welsh house, the Victorian “brick” villa, complete with its original stand, was a large size at 3ft 5in by 4ft 10in (1.04m x1.47m).