W&H Peacock

W&H Peacock was founded by two brothers in 1901. They now hold weekly auctions in Bedford as well as regular sales in both St. Neots and Leamington Spa.

The also stage bimonthly specialist auctions of fine art and antique alongside Lock & England who have been based in Leamington Spa since 1834.


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Penguin bookshelf on offer at Bedford auction

13 November 2023

The Penguin Bookshelf was a collaboration between Penguin Books and the London furniture-maker Beaver and Tapley. The design was debuted to retailers at the 1955 Furniture Exhibition when something close to 3000 orders were placed.

Gemma Sudlow

Expansion and hires including Hindman to open a New York saleroom

22 November 2022

Hindman launching in New York and Sotheby’s expanding in Asia are among the latest updates across the world of art and antiques.

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It’s a burner bonus

03 October 2022

Although catalogued as a lantern, this Russian silver, gilt and enamel object is more probably an incense burner, used in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

Staffordshire greyhounds

Pick of the week: ‘The talk of the Staffordshire community’

11 April 2022

As a general rule prices for most pairs of Staffordshire dogs, the quintessential Victorian fireside ornament, have dipped markedly in the past generation.

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Bloomsbury and Omega are key to pottery appeal

07 March 2022

From the early 1930s, the London potter Phyllis Keyes (1881-1968), with a studio in Warren Street and later in Clipstone Street, supplied Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and other members of the Bloomsbury Group with earthenware teawares, jugs and vases for decoration.

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Waterfall bookcases flow well at auction

18 January 2021

The sale at W&H Peacock (17.5% buyer’s premium) in Bedford on January 1 included, estimated at £200-300, this pair of mahogany waterfall-style bookcases.

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Black Forest clock hunted down

20 January 2020

This ‘Black Forest’ type clock on the theme of hunting is signed by Swiss master carver Johann Huggler of Brienz (1834-1912).

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An Augustus John portrait, a Fijian war weapon and an early golf putter – six auction highlights that caught bidders’ eyes in the last week

14 June 2019

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week includes a portrait by Augustus John (1878-1961) of his artist daughter Gwyneth Johnstone.

Hercules bronze

What lots caught bidders’ eyes in the last week? Five auction highlights including a Beatles poster and a bronze of Hercules

11 January 2019

ATG’s selection of hammer highlights over the past week include ancient coins and sentimental needlework from around the regional auction houses.

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London and the world in focus at auction including an 18th century map of the capital

03 December 2018

Large-scale 18th century map of the capital joins a wider global outlook at auction...

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Saleroom selection: three works under £900 in regional sales

16 July 2018

Three modestly valued works in regional sales including a local artists who painted mainly south Wales coal miners.

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With a little help from our friends in the north

15 January 2018

Auctioneering is a fiercely competitive business, on the face of it. Behind the scenes, however, there are many examples of salerooms helping each other – from sharing business experiences to providing specialist counsel on objects.

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Peacock puts on a fine display

16 October 2017

Huge new auction centre ready to launch on the edge of Bedford includes five salerooms...

silver nutmeg grater

Silver linings: hammer highlights

18 March 2017

Two silver hammer highlights which sold for well above estimate

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Childhood toy rides to £14,400

22 October 2012

A local 90-year-old gentleman and his wife were in the room to watch his childhood toy sell for a small fortune at W. & H. Peacock’s recent ‘Memories of Childhood’ sale in Bedford.

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The bowl that proves it can pack a punch at £28,000

24 April 2006

A Bedford woman who was downsizing homes decided to enter this piece of family silver into her local auction house. It proved to be the stellar entry in W&H Peacock’s April 7 antiques sale when, after generating considerable pre-sale attention from the London silver trade, it far outstripped the saleroom’s unpublished expectations of around £3000-5000, selling to one of their number for £28,000 (plus 12.5% premium).

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