Pair of George III blue john and ormolu ‘Cleopatra’ candle vases, attributed to Matthew Boulton, estimate £2000-4000 at Sworders.
Sworders will conduct a sale on January 25 devoted to the contents of the Barons Court flat of dealer Maurice Turpin (1928-2005). Known throughout the trade as ‘Dick’, he achieved near-legendary status during a 50-year career.
During the ‘golden age’ of the antique furniture business, Turpin was a familiar sight at regional UK salerooms; a giant of a man with a large walrus moustache, thick-rimmed spectacles and trilby hat that mixed incongruously with a curiously high-pitched voice.
After he died in 2005, the stock from his Bruton Street shop was sold in two sales at Christie’s, titled The Legend of Dick Turpin.
Sworders, of Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, will sell the contents of that W14 residence he shared with partner Jackie Mann (see obituary in ATG No 2613) - comprising hundreds of pieces of furniture, works of art and paintings.
The sale of 267 lots will simply be titled Dick Turpin: The Legend Lives On, including this pair of George III blue john and ormolu ‘Cleopatra’ candle vases (pictured top), attributed to Matthew Boulton, estimated at £2000-4000.
Royal No 1 Mouse Trap, dated c.1879, estimate £800-1200 at Unique Auctions.
Unique Auctions is selling a Royal No 1 Mouse Trap, dated c.1879, on January 1, 2024.
This particular model is the oldest patented mouse trap in the United States Patent Office. Invented by a James M Keep of New York, it received its patent (No 221320) on November 4, 1879.
The trap functions similarly to a wild game trap but on a smaller scale. Its spring-loaded jaw mechanism and distinctive lattice work cast iron cut-out design, featuring a heart shape, give it a distinctive look.
Estimate £800-1200.
Describer by Chaucer Auctions of Folkestone as 'A who’s who of the brave fighter pilots’, this copy of Aces High by Christopher Shores and Clive Williams includes more than 280 fighter aces autographs spread throughout.
Many are signed on the pages with biography, some are signed photos, with signature pieces fixed on to pages and at the front and back pages.
A full alphabetic list is included and many scarce and valuable autographs feature such as Aitken, Bader, Braham, Checketts, Closterman, Cooper-Slipper, Cwynar, Harry Dowding, Flakowski, Fumerton, Gabszewicz, Gladych, Keighley-Pach, Kingcombe, Lanowski, Laubman, Lokuciewski, Maciejowski, Nowierski, Otterwill, Pietrasidk, Powell-Sheddon, Skalski, Szczesny, Townsend, Stanford Tuck, Witorzenc, Zurakowski.
The estimate on January 3 is £1200-1400.
Seven volumes of Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands, issued by Lord Lilford in 1885-97, estimate £1500-2000 at Amersham Auction Rooms.
At Amersham Auction Rooms on January 4 a sale titled A Single Owner Reference Library Collection includes the seven volumes of Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands, issued by Lord Lilford in 1885-97.
Estimate £1500-2000.
Early 19th century Stobwasser lacquer box of compressed circular form, estimate £300-400 at Clarke’s.
Clarke’s of Shaftesbury, Dorset, is offering this early 19th century Stobwasser lacquer box of compressed circular form on December 28-30.
With top decoration depicting a young lady with a green parrot, the (10cm) diameter box is signed and numbered 7983 to the inside.
Estimate £300-400.
Probably late 20th century large sapphire and diamond three-stone ring, with oval Sri Lankan royal blue sapphire, estimate SG$25,000-35,000 at Hotlotz.
A wide-ranging single-owner collection of jewellery, assembled by a Singaporean lady over her lifetime, including antique and contemporary pieces many set with large and fine coloured stones and diamonds, will be offered in a timed online sale at Hotlotz of Singapore ending on January 21.
One of the more modern pieces, probably late 20th century, this large sapphire and diamond three-stone ring, has an oval Sri Lankan royal blue sapphire, weighing approximately 18 carats.
It is guided at SG$25,000-35,000.
