Since Tayler & Fletcher became part of the nationwide firm of estate agents Humberts two years ago, the Gloucestershire firm have benefited from increasing numbers of house clearance referrals. Several such clearances furnished this 820-lot triannual outing with many of its best entries helping to boost the hammer total to £142,000. Around 85 per cent of the lots sold.
A Regency rosewood breakfront chiffonier from a private local clearance was the top lot.
Notable for its finely-cast, classical-style ormolu columns flanking the mirror, and the large, skilfully executed, central panel painted to simulate rosewood, it sold at £5600 to a dealer planning to exhibit it at a fair. Similarly, a different local clearance also produced one of the most unusual entries: a carved oak panel depicting St George slaying the dragon.
Trade speculation that this once polychromed, and deeply carved, 191/2in x 201/4in (50cm x 51cm) panel dated to the 17th century or earlier, propelled it to a winning £2000.
A late 17th century oak side chair consigned from a Cotswold house clearance near Broadway appealed to a Stow-on-the-Wold specialist oak dealer because of the unusual carved dragon motif to the panelled back. He went to £1800 to secure it.
Other eye-catching entries from house clearances included a late 19th century oak Arts and Crafts bookcase from a Grade I-Listed Tudor mansion.
Inscribed The Gates of a City of Sleeping Kings taken from Ruskin's book Sesame & Lilies, the massive 11ft 2in x 8ft 11/2in (1.34m x 98cm) piece generated interest from private London Arts and Crafts enthusiasts and sold to one of them at £2000.
Best of the ceramics was a George Jones majolica salmon tureen - a 2ft (61cm) long piece with a simulated basket weave base and the lid of a naturalistically modelled and painted salmon on bright green leaves. The salmon had a minor piece of its tail restored and the lid was slightly chipped, but the tureen carried the George Jones thumbprint mark and impressed diamond registration mark. It sold at £2700.
Also selling well was an early Macintyre Moorcroft Florianware double-gourd vase decorated with poppies and dark blue cornflowers against a green ground, which took £1800.
