Ten pieces, including an avocado with a cutaway section, are pictured here. Naturalistically modelled and painted, and labelled in French, they were consigned for sale from a vendor whose family had owned a plantation in the West Indies. Such a provenance suggested a Caribbean origin, but both the buyer (a private collector) and underbidder (a local dealer) were confident that they were Oriental and early 19th century. They sold for £2000.
The unexpected highlight of the auctioneers' June 21-22 sale had been a Chinese Export pattern vegetable tureen and stand decorated with a Tobacco Leaf pattern of red, puce, green and blue hibiscus and passion flowers.
Measuring 14in (35cm) across it was of typical octagonal form with blue rabbits' head handles and a scroll knop to the cover that had a 19th century stapled repair. No matter. The very low £80-150 estimate guaranteed plenty of interest and two bidders saw it to £2300 - still a relatively modest price for this piece.
From the same house came a 19th century oak pedestal desk profusely carved with neo-gothic motifs that had been consigned from the home of a rector. Its quality told with a bid of £2650 from the local trade.
Bumper harvest after minor expectations
IT is frequently the unusual and the decorative that the market craves today. The ‘peach’ of the sale conducted by Kidson-Trigg (15% buyer’s premium) of Highworth, near Swindon on July 22 was certainly both, a group of 14 painted and carved wood and gesso models of fruit, pictured right.