Marvellous marble
Victorian amboyna and specimen marble table sold at Eldreds for £5600.
An impeccable link to royalty triggered wide interest in the Victorian amboyna and specimen marble table above.
The table, with a 17in x 2ft 2in (44 x 67cm) chequered top comprising various hardstones, came in to the Plymouth rooms of Eldreds (20% buyer’s premium) from the nearby home of the late Sir Owen Morshead, who had been Royal Librarian from 1926-58.
So much material was in the bedroom of the house that the royal links were initially overlooked, said auctioneer Anthony Eldred, who guided the table at £300-500 for the July 25 sale.
After a stamped crown and VR 1866 Windsor Castle Room 233 (also see detail above) beneath the plinth and an inventory label Windsor Castle Room 233, no. 34 were revealed, the estimate was upped to £1000-plus.
“During Sir Owen’s time at the castle he and his family lived in a grace-and-favour home there, the Garden House,” said Eldred.
“His own furniture was stored by the Lord Chamberlain’s department who lost some of it. By way of compensation, the family was allowed to keep several items they had been using in the Garden House, including this table.”
Bidding in the room, online and on the phone ended with a winning £5600 bid from a dealer on the phone.
Home comforts
A pair of Regency rosewood console tables offered at Adam’s (20% buyer’s premium) At Home auction held in Dublin which sold for €8500 (£7430).
A pair of Regency rosewood console tables was offered at Adam’s (20% buyer’s premium) At Home auction held in Dublin on June 18. With white marble tops above brass-inlaid friezes, the 3ft 6in (1.06m) tall tables were estimated at €3000-5000 and sold at €8500 (£7430).
Less decorative, more functional and a bigger surprise was an 8ft (2.44m) wide William IV mahogany serving table with a fielded frieze decorated flower heads on leaf-carved and fluted legs. Estimated at €600-800, it sold at €5700 (£4980).
Classic work
George III mahogany and walnut demi-line commode sold for £7800 at Lawrences of Crewkerne.
An example of the classic English work which was hit so hard by the furniture collapse, a George III mahogany and walnut demi-line commode was pitched at £1200-1800 by Lawrences (22% buyer’s premium) at Crewkerne on July 14. With radiating inlay to the 4ft 9in (1.45m) wide top and inlaid panels to the three cupboards, it sold to a London dealer on the phone at £7800.
Estimate-buster
A George III green japanned bureau bookcase sold at Bishop & Miller for £5600.
A George III green japanned bureau bookcase went some six times the mid-estimate at Bishop & Miller (18% buyer’s premium) at Stowmarket on June 17.
Standing 5ft 8in (1.73m) tall with a sloping chinoiserie-decorated fall enclosing pigeon holes, it was estimated at £700-1000 and sold at £5600.
