The highlight of the January 9 auction was a 19th century giltwood and gesso table with 5ft 10in (1.8m) wide marble top and figurative supports. It brought £1800, while a set of six Victorian rosewood dining chairs with compressed balloon backs fetched £1250.
Mahogany furniture also made its mark with a mid-18th century-style carved double chairback settee in the Chippendale manner bringing £920, and a George IV mahogany davenport selling at £800.
Furniture did not realise all the best prices with a matched set of 15 silver 18th century Hanoverian pattern tablespoons and two matching table forks, engraved with crest and with worn marks, making a splash at £700.
The star turn in the January 23 sale was an early 19th century mahogany longcase clock. With swan neck pediment, fluted columns and a painted arched dial signed John Anderson Jnr. Arbroath, it sold at £1400.
Other pieces included a Victorian rosewood chiffonier, 3ft 11in (1.21m) at £570 and an early mahogany envelope card table with frieze drawer and tapered square legs, 2ft (63cm) which made £360.
Bearne’s, Exeter,
January 9 and 23,
Buyer’s premium: 15/10 per cent
Bread and butter on a giltwood and gesso table
UK: FURNITURE provided the bread and butter at Exeter in January where, as so often, dependable sets of dining chairs, tables, linen presses and longcase clocks brought the best bids.
