Auction Reports

This 22-carat gold and enamel egg was the largest of a baker’s dozen made by Garrard in 1983 for a treasure hunt organised by Cadbury’s.

Entered from the estate of an Ipswich craftsman-hobbyist, the corpulent figures shown below were two of his 144 wood carvings which met unexpected demand.

Traditional 18th century styles rub shoulders with stand-out Modern design in regional sales

This eye-catching 19th century Ceylonese ebony and inlaid breakfast table came with intriguing stories about its provenance in an auction catalogue.

If the famous image of the Milton Shield by Elkington and its £800-1200 estimate drew a double-take at a recent auction, there was good reason.

In a sale that yielded quality and surprises in most sections, the major talking points at Stride & Son (18% buyer’s premium) were provided by two pieces of furniture. Emerging from the same house and given here-to-sell estimates, both achieved five-figure results.

In poor condition but made in the coveted Yongzheng (1722-1735) period, this pair of Doucai porcelain cups attracted bids from China, Canada, Scandinavia and Spain as well as the UK.

Although Thomas Tompion (1639-1713) is often referred to as the Father of English Clockmaking, his talents were not just limited to clocks.

Despite having no maker’s mark, the design and quality of this c.1930 oak reclining book table armchair, below, proclaimed Ambrose Heal.

The latest Interiors sale at Cheffins (24.5% buyer’s premium) in Cambridge included one of the rarest of all the Britains lead soldier sets.

Lacking the glitter of a former rock star owner, this Fender Stratocaster sold on the traditional antiques virtues of quality, age and condition.

With crossover appeal to Meccano collectors and advertising enthusiasts, this Meccano Dealer’s No 1 slope-back cabinet from 1929-35 went well over hopes.

Rated a museum-quality piece, this rare c.1902 spirit-fired Märklin fire engine led the field at toys specialist Wallis & Wallis (24% buyer’s premium).

Dunhill Aquarium table lighters painted by Margaret Bennett and husband Alan in the 1950s-60s remain popular among collectors in these non-smoking days.

With all 80 lots getting away – 79 to a single UK collector – a group of walking sticks totalled more than £40,000 at Charterhouse (25% buyer’s premium).

A cigarette box engraved with the facsimile signature Captain Falcon Scott may have been a piece the Antarctic hero gave to a fellow explorer he offended.

A recent sale at Cotswold Auction Company (22% buyer’s premium) included a single-owner collection of antiquities from Lionel Walrond (1927-2020).

This Liverpool creamware transfer-printed frog mug was produced by the short-lived Herculaneum factory c.1830-33 just after the 1829 Rainhill Steam Trials.

On a day when furniture and antiques proved to be particularly popular, the surprise star of Fellows’ (23% buyer’s premium) 740-lot online sale was an Italian 19th century pier mirror.

This silver teapot has London hallmarks for 1792 and a maker’s mark for silversmith Michael Plummer who worked out of Gutter Lane, London, from 1791-95.