Last year, for example, Richard Winterton’s (15% buyer's premium) sold two of the coveted large ‘wheel’ vases by St Ives’s finest sold for over £800 each and – if not so monumental – the two items on offer in their January 21 sale were no less distinctive.
A 6in (15cm) high spice jar with blue textured decoration by Alison Brigden sold over the estimate for £120 while a small wheel vase, 5in (12cm) high with geometric decoration and the monogram for Ann Lewis sold at £140.
The theme of this 300-lot sale was oak and country furniture and one of the higher prices of the day was tendered for a George III oak longcase with a 30-hour striking movement and a Roman dial signed Holliwell, Derby. It made £1000, preceded at £1050 by an early Victorian 30-hour clock, again in oak, with a painted dial signed Farmer’s Stockton.
Arts and Crafts furniture also found favour with bids of £420 and £1000 for early 20th century sideboards in the Liberty style. The first had a mirror back flanked by carved stylised floral motifs, the second included lead-glazed cupboards and blacksmith-made hinges and escutcheons to both the upper and lower sections.
Troika revival complements oak sale
HELPED by both the input of new collectors and the appearance on the market of some good pieces, Troika pottery certainly experienced renewed interest in 2003.
