Furniture provided the top seller, a Victorian walnut Wellington chest with the rather unusual addition of a fall-front secretaire drawer, concealed as two false drawers, with a fitted interior. Standing 4ft 2in tall by 22in wide (1.27m x 56cm) the Wellington chest sold to the trade at £2500.
However, it was ceramics which made the day. Included in this section were two late 18th century Chinese export porcelain pieces, a covered bowl and an ivory glazed pedestal cup and cover. The 9in (23cm) diameter bowl with loop handles, floral finial and decorated with bamboo and flora in gilded iron on underglaze blue, took £1600 and the 5in (13cm) cup with kylin finial and armorial devices made £900.
Best of the home-produced ceramics was a pair of Victorian Minton majolica vases, each fashioned as three graduated bamboo shoots in blue and maroon. The 61/2in (16.5cm) sticks sold to the trade at £1150.
The June event followed a more high-profile affair on May 2 when works of art dominated the upper register of the results sheet.
Among the works of art, a pair of 2ft 41/2in (72cm) 19th century iron red marble covered ovoid urns with cast bronze finials, and opposing rams heads with twisting horns led the way at £5200.
This price was closely followed by the £5000 which secured Young Lady, a 2ft 1in (64cm) carved white marble bust by William Couper of a woman in classical attire.
On a day of eye-catching pieces, a Fabergé blue, hobnail cut glass and gilt metal caviar dish and a Goldsmiths & Silversmiths presentation centrepiece in the form of a nef stood out.
The 18in (46cm) tall caviar centrepiece with hinged spherical body surmounted by an acorn finial with opposing scroll handles on three serpent-shaped feet on an octagonal plinth, made £2400.
The presentation nef, with a trumpet- blowing angel figurehead, Britannia at the stern and the City of London coat-of-arms to the sides, was elevated on a turreted baluster stem supported by two dragons. Weighing 92oz, the 181/2in (47cm) piece, dated London 1909, sold at £3400.
Amersham Auction Rooms, June 6
Buyer’s premium: 15 per cent
Midsummer stills brings out buyers
THERE were few out and out stars at the Amersham Buckinghamshire rooms on 6 June but the buyers were keen enough to support the auctioneers’ contention that, with more widespread holidays and the Internet, it is only vendors who are cautious about midsummer sales.
