Many of these inferior ‘lookalikes’ now appear for sale and sell for around £100-200 apiece.
However, a table with a much closer connection with Godwin’s original design is a very different proposition. They were made with Godwin’s approval by Collinson & Lock, William Watt and Gillows.
A table marked Gillows No. 713 emerged for sale at Kent Auction Galleries (15% buyer’s premium) in Folkestone on October 26. Estimated at £150-300, it sold at £4500.
Flourishing for a decade before Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts, the Aesthetic Movement is now overshadowed by both.
Coromandel top
Coromandel-top table by Collinson & Lock – £850 at Lawrences of Crewkerne.
More in line with the usual Aesthetic market was the fine quality table, also pictured, with a 2ft 9½in (85cm) wide coromandel top inlaid with ivory or bone floral motifs.
Offered at a sale at Lawrences (25% buyer’s premium) of Crewkerne on October 10, it was stamped to the ebonised base with Collinson & Lock, 6871 and was possibly designed by Stephen Webb, one of the leading designers of the day often employed by the highly rated firm.
Nevertheless, it sold modestly on thesaleroom.com just above estimate at £850.
One of a pair of Alvar Aalto Model 31 armchairs – £5200 also at Lawrences.
Bidders at Lawrences were certainly enthused by furniture from almost a century later: the section was led by a pair of armchairs designed by Alvar Aalto for Finmar.
The Model 31 laminated cantilever wooden chairs bore impressed numbers to the bases and sold above hopes at £5200.
