The highlight of the sale was a surprise – a late 19th century Samson figure group of a gallant with his female companion which was given a £200-300 guideline. Modelled in Derby style, the lady epitomised Victorian virtue with a flower in her hand and an apron full of blooms. The gentleman was the perfect match in an ermine trimmed cape and hat, breeches and waistcoat.
It became a target for the trade and went to a dealer at £2600.
A collection of Meissen from a Leicestershire estate included another feminine lovely: a late 19th century classical muse.
Standing with her head cast upwards and holding a lyre in her left hand, she was no shrinking violet at a sizeable 201/2in (52cm) high. With the crossed swords mark, her size more than made up for her late date and she brought £1750.
In addition to Meissen, the sale also had a good selection of Worcestershire with a 38-piece Royal Worcestershire tea and coffee service, c.1897-1901, from the same Leicestershire estate, selling at £1080 against a conservative £200-300 estimate.
A second late 19th century Meissen entry – from Sir Francis and Lady Winnington’s Worcestershire estate – was a 161/2in (42cm) parrot, examples of which generally prove popular.
This one, perched on a tree stump, with brightly coloured feathers and some restoration to its tail, certainly did and went well over estimate at £1800.
Glass was one of the most buoyant sections with healthy bidding on three cameo glass vases from a local private source including a Thomas Webb vase, c.1880, taken-up by the trade at £1850. Of ovoid shape and short neck, it was cast in yellow, red and white and carved with berries, leaves and butterflies, 73/4in (20cm).
A collector bid £630 for a second Thomas Webb vase of the same date while a Stourbridge cameo glass vase, c.1880, was secured by a dealer at £1200.
Bohemian glass has seen dips in the market so when a 30-part table service was consigned to the rooms it was only given a meagre £300-500 estimate. But the decorative entry had plenty to offer the trade and a dealer went to £2000 to secure the lot.
And a resurgence of interest in lustres ensured a decorative pair of early 20th century ruby glass table lustres sold better than expected at £780.
Phillips, Knowle, February 21
Buyer’s premium: 15/10 per cent
Samson shows surprising strength
UK: THIS quarterly sale of ceramics, glass, and works of art at Phillips’ Midlands branch included private collections of cameo glass, Meissen and Royal Worcestershire, plus a smattering of Oriental entries which contributed to the £111,000 sale tally that was nearly 90 per cent sold by lot.
