The sale in Cheltenham on January 10 generated over £100,000.
The top lot was a carved stone lion’s head measuring 11½ x 11in (29 x 28cm) approximately and thought to be Italian, dating from the 15th or 16th century.
It had come from the estate of a deceased collector and their notes recorded that reputedly the piece had been “verified by the British Museum as a Renaissance example from a wine jar or sarcophagus”.
Certainly it generated more interest than the £400-600 predicted, selling finally for £4800 to a phone bidder from overseas.
Mirror in the manner of examples by John Belchier, £2400 at Mallams.
Notable among the many furniture items on offer was a 4ft 5in x 22in (1.35m x 56cm) parcel gilt bevelled edge mirror fitted with two mirror plates. Its form was in the manner of the mirrors and pier glasses attributed to the 18th century London cabinet-maker John Belchier (1699-1753) whose best-known commission was the furniture supplied to Erdigg in Wales.
Mallams’ mirror, which had overall signs of wear and restoration, was fitted with later brass candle sconce brackets and sold for £2400 against a £400-600 guide to a UK phone bidder.
Stained-glass armorial window, £900 at Mallams.
Another lot that improved on expectations was a stained-glass window panel measuring 2ft 2in x 18in (65.5 x 46cm) painted with a stag’s head and an unidentified armorial to the centre framed by acanthus.
It was catalogued as possibly late 18th/early 19th century and had some damage, with cracks and some of the frame bent and detached from the glass.
Notwithstanding, it realised £900 against a guide of £100-200.
