There was, however, considerable interest from dealers and private bidders in Art Deco and Arts and Craft work consigned, like much of the sale, from deceased estates.
One such highlight was an early 20th century dress ring, set with a pearl within an open mount of naturalistic branch design, embellished with translucent pale green enamelled budding foliage and stamped Lalique.
Lalique jewellery is seldom seen at auction and a collector in Arizona thought the ring worth a wee small hours bidding battle on the phone. Three other phone bidders were in contention but the ring went to the North of England trade at £3600.
Among the Arts and Crafts silver were a planished bowl in the manner of C.S. Ashbee and an Omar Ramsden goblet.
The 63/4ozs Guild of Handicrafts, circular bowl, London 1901, was pierced and hand-raised with three stylised leaves that radiated from a raised boss within a beaded border, and went to an Oxford dealer at £2700.
The same dealer also secured the 81/4oz goblet with planished cup-shaped bowl engraved I Was Wrought For Tom Strong by command of Angela, February 4th 1931, but hallmarked London, 1928.
Standing 61/4in (16cm) high, with the foot rim inscribed Omar Ramsden Me Fecit, the goblet sold at £2350.
Cumbria Auction Rooms, Carlisle, June 25
Buyer’s premium: 10 per cent
Lalique ring awakens Arizona fan in challenge to Northern winner
THIS 582-lot sale at Cumbria Auction Rooms on 25 June was quieter than the Carlisle rooms are used to, a fact which auctioneer Howard Naylor attributed to a strong pound and the way dealers are not buying second rate furniture adding: “It’s all down to quality and condition.”
