An 8in (21cm) tall pair of classic knopped and reeded columns on canted square base with shell decoration by Cafe more than doubled top hopes in taking £2800 at Cheffins (22.5% buyer’s premium) at Cambridge on June 13-14.
At Gorringe’s (18% buyer’s premium) on June 16, an 11in (27cm) tall, 42oz pair of London 1763 sticks by Coker, with turned waisted stems, had one sconce unmarked and catalogued a/f, but went well above hopes at £1800.
Brightest lights of the regional summer so far was a set of four cast sticks (three shown above), by the less well-known John White, London 1738.
White is described by silver specialist Koopman Rare Art as “a mysterious figure” whose high-quality work is “of Huguenot character”, although there is no known connection between him and the talent pool of emigrés.
The 8in (21cm) sticks offered at the Cheffins June sale were of sufficiently high quality and rarity to be estimated at £3000-5000 and to fetch an £11,000 winning bid from a collector.
