The company ceased trading on July 30 and just a week or so later Edinburgh auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull (17.5% buyer's premium) conducted the September 8 fire sale. With plenty of local interest, an audience of over 600 attended the sale to compete for a unique piece of Edinburgh history including more than 100 Persian, Afghan and Oriental rugs, unfinished upholstered chairs and sofas, bolts of cloth and both period and reproduction brown furniture standards.
However, easily the most coveted lot of the day was this carved and painted oak royal warrant, right, awarded to the company (who received their first Royal Warrant in 1838 from Queen Victoria) by Queen Elizabeth II. Contributing £2600 (estimate £500-700) to the £220,000 total, it sold to an English dealer.
