Their most recent 434-lot outing on October 12 was no exception with a pair of 87oz, 1973 silver-gilt enamelled water jugs by Gerald Benney providing the highlight at £15,000.
While these jugs were by far the most expensive entry, an unusual 37oz Victorian campaign shaving set by London silversmith Robert Garrard 1851, was notable amongst the antiques. It fetched £1450 while the commercial appeal of a large 19 1/2in (50cm) high Victorian electroplated centrepiece decorated with camels outweighed its condition problems with the London trade bidding £2600 for ownership.
Although there were no blockbuster entries, interest was steady throughout and the sale totalled £138,830 with a 77 per cent take-up by volume.
The highlight of Bonhams' previous monthly 499-lot silver and vertu Knightsbridge auction on September 7 was a 23oz early George II teapot by Edinburgh's Patrick Murray dating to 1727. Unsold in their Bond Street July sale where it failed to attract any interest at £5000-6000, its quality stood out in this more routine affair where it realised £4600. The sale totalled £116,435 with a 74 per cent take-up by lot.
Bonhams Knightsbridge
TWO or three times a year Bonhams (19.5/10% buyer's premium) offer a selection of modern pieces in their monthly Knightsbridge silver and objects of vertu sales. Undoubtedly a growth area of the market, works by major names such as Stuart Devlin, Gerald Benney and Christopher Lawrence routinely feature amongst the top ten lots.