Staffordshire Army gets Rich prices

The extremely rare Victorian portrait bust of the Salvation Army’s founder proved to be the highlight of the collection, ferociously contested until it was bought by a dealer in the room
acting for an American collector at £3500. Demand was strong throughout, with only 5 per cent of the 250 lots left unsold, although prices were predictably depressed for the
more common examples of Victorian and 20th century portrait figures which characterised the collection.

However, there were also surprisingly high prices, especially for some of the earlier 19th
century animals like Jumbo, an 11in (28cm) brown-glazed elephant on a moulded oval base which sold at £1900.

Also in demand were an ochre sponged figure of a horse with a docked tail on a naturalistic oval base, 12in (31cm) long, which made £1000 and a pair of greyhound spill vases with treestumps, fences and gilt collars, 7in (18cm) which sold at £2100.