Barbara Kirk

Barbara Kirk is an auction house in Cornwall located in the former Penzance Trinity House Depot, near the harbour.

Owner and auctioneer Barbara Kirk is a specialist in jewellery, silver and watches but the firm also has expertise in antiques, collector's items, fine art, collectables and studio ceramics.

Natural topaz commands a premium at Barbara Kirk

30 March 2020

Topaz in its natural state is a golden brown to yellow, a characteristic which means it is sometimes confused with the less valuable gemstone citrine.

Rare offering of fountain pens draws bidders in Cornwall

09 December 2019

In a large collection of fountain pens offered at Cornish auction house Barbara Kirk (15% buyer’s premium) most well-known makers were represented, but among the rarer ones were no fewer than 19 by the Italian manufacturer Omas.

Preiss is right ahead of ivory ban

05 August 2019

Under forthcoming UK ivory legislation, there will be no legitimate market for bronze and ivory Art Deco figures.

Chinese glass painting, Art Deco figure and historical archive – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week

19 July 2019

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a bronze and ivory Art Deco figure by Ferdinand Preiss, a Chinese Export reverse painted mirror and an archive of documents from a historic Berkshire estate.

Rare timepieces from wartime in Penzance and West Sussex

11 February 2019

A rare Longines centre seconds military wristwatch – a type developed in 1944 for the rigours of airborne work by the Research & Development team of the War Department – sold for a multi-estimate £11,200 at Barbara Kirk (15% buyer’s premium) in Penzance on November 27 last year.

Affordable art: three works priced under £900 in regional auctions including a Strickland Thomas naval view

11 February 2019

Good art at a great price in regional sales.

Saleroom selection: Three works under £1000 in regional sales, including Samuel John 'Lamorna' Birch watercolour

27 August 2018

A selection of three works from UK regional salerooms sold for £1000 or under.

Gramophone needle tins up at auction show the appeal of niche collecting

16 April 2018

By the law of averages, there must be a collector out there for just about any antique. So while gramophone collecting is not that unusual, gramophone needle tins definitely push into the ‘niche’ category.

Shaft and globe shows a lot of Cornish bottle

29 January 2018

A 17th century long-necked sealed ‘shaft and globe’ wine bottle sold for an unexpected £8300 (plus 15% buyer’s premium) at Barbara Kirk Auctions in Penzance on January 23.

15th century gold coin found by dog-walkers heads to auction in Cornwall

06 January 2017

A rare European gold coin found by a dog-walker on a Cornish beach is to be auctioned in Penzance later this month.

Vendor’s waste paper basket proves to be rare Burmese silver bowl

11 November 2016

A rare late 19th century Burmese silver bowl has come to auction having previously been used by the vendor’s mother as a waste paper basket.

Shoe flask from The Deptford Pottery

23 January 2014

This novelty flask in the form of a shoe features in Barbara Kirk’s forthcoming Antiques & Collectors Items Auction in Penzance.

Fabergé silver in Penzance

14 March 2013

Barbara Kirk’s first auction of antiques, jewellery and collectors items in Penzance will take place on March 19.

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