However, the Anglo-American axis against Islamic terrorism did have some benefit, however small, for Sussex auctioneers Gorringes (10 per cent buyer’s premium) when they offered this pair of Asprey’s 18 carat gold cufflinks, emblazoned with the Union flag and the Stars and Stripes, at their sale in Lewes on October 18.
Auctioneer Nick Muston described their entry as “coincidence”, though it was unlikely that the vendor could have ignored their symbolic
relevance to current affairs. This was not lost on several dealers who left high commission bids, but it was a local man, standing ‘cuff to cuff’ with Blair and Bush, who paid the winning, double-estimate £1300.
Brothers in arms
The war in Afghanistan is not good news for trade on the whole. American visits are down, insurance costs are up, consumers are staying at home, the market for rugs and carpets have taken a hammering since the airstrikes were launched, and that is just in London.
