The Charles II walnut and marquetry clock was inscribed to the 10in (25cm) square dial Henry Jones London.
An apprentice and long-term associate of Edward East, Jones (1632-95) was an important maker in his own right, providing clocks for both Charles I and II.
This longcase came to the rostrum on January 23 after more than 100 years in a private family but, in a difficult market, Dorchester auctioneer Guy Schwinge described the £40,000-60,000 estimate as ‘punchy’ even for such a rare survival.
In the end, a bid of £34,000 – “above estimate with premium” as Schwinge pointed out – won the clock for a private UK buyer.
One of a pair of 19th century Egyptian porphyry and marble columns – £18,000 at Duke’s.
The £500-800 estimate on a pair of 19th century Egyptian porphyry columns with marmo gallio mounts had optimistic purchasers queuing up.
Few, however, could have been surprised when Schwinge told them a printer’s error had raised their hopes falsely – the figure should have read £5000-10,000.
That hardly dashed interest on the 3ft 4in (1.03m) tall columns. Against intense competition, the pair went to a major international dealer at £18,000.
Marquetry decoration
Queen Anne marquetry side table – £5600 at Duke’s.
Among the furniture was a Queen Anne side table in the manner of Gerrit Jensen, the Flemish immigrant who supplied William and Mary with furniture in the French fashion featuring metal inlays and elaborate ‘seaweed’ or arabesque marquetry.
The 3ft 1in x 2ft 2in (95 x 67cm) top featured rosewood, pen-worked boxwood and coloured bone marquetry depicting a bird among flowers rising from an urn.
A catalogue caveat advised ‘this table consists of some early-18th century elements but has been subject to late 19th/ early 20th century adaptions’. Against a £3000-5000 estimate, it sold at £5600.
Going considerably further above hopes was a late-17th century Dutch oyster-veneered kingwood, laburnum and walnut table cabinet concealing an arrangement of 12 ivory-handled drawers and a mirrored devotional compartment.
The stand was in the manner of the notable 18th century English cabinetmaker William Vile and against a £2000-3000 estimate it went over the phone at £8000.
