The demi-lune tops, decorated with a central fan motif, began life as George III table ends and had been later veneered, and the fluted tapering legs of the married bases had been re-gilded in late Victorian times. Furthermore, as one of the 2ft 7in x 4ft (84cm x 1.12m) tables had been stored in an attic, it was darker than the other.
Had the tables been a period pair, auctioneer Gordon Patrick would have been looking for anything from £20,000 to £50,000. As it was, he thought the £5000-8000 estimate was on the punchy side and was delighted to see the pair go to a Midlands dealer at £9500. "It's amazing what people are paying for the interior decorator market," he said.
Appealing to a more specialist market was an unusual 12in (30cm) long North Italian, or French, silver-mounted fruitwood case which would originally have contained a clay pipe. Catalogued as early 18th century, but actually c.1680, it was in good condition and profusely carved with mythical animals, putti, chariots and scrolls.
Consigned by a Cotswold-based collector, it attracted US and European interest but sold to a local collector at £1500.
The same collector, along with Japanese bidders, were beaten by the London specialist trade to a Meiji period (1868-1912) Japanese gilt-lacquered ivory fan. Painted with birds and flowers, and entered with its original fitted black lacquer box, it doubled the mid-estimate selling at £2900.
Elsewhere, the novelty appeal of a Victorian silver caddy spoon by Frances Higgins, its bowl modelled as a mussel shell, realised £700, while the value of provenance came into play when an Edwardian five-light candelabra, formerly owned by the singer and comedian Harry Secombe, fetched £2000.
"It probably doubled in price because of its previous owner," said Mr Patrick.
