As expected, a seascape by David James led the way at £8000 but there were also some solid prices across the sections including the above-estimate bids offered for this 19th century Sheffield plated table centre and George III silver samovar shown right.
By sale day, auctioneer Charles Ross was fairly confident that the 121/2in (32cm) tall table centre with shell, rocaille and flowerhead decoration was by Matthew Boulton and it sold to the London trade at £1750.
The 56oz, 22in (56cm) samovar marked R.G.Sheffield 1812 went to one of the many keen local private bidders at £1500.
Best of the furniture was a George II
dining table extending with its three extra leaves to 9ft 8in (2.95m). Mr Ross described it as having “lovely timber’ and only needing a little work on the runners and it went to the Kent trade just above estimate at £5500.
A George III mahogany, crossbanded, strung and inlaid bowfront sideboard, with a typical frieze drawer flanked by cupboards, had sold at £4400 at Christie’s in 1988 but the realistic vendor was prepared to take a loss in 2003.
Replaced back legs kept the estimate down to £2500-3500 but two local private bidders fought it out to £4800. Also going well over expectations was a Regency rosewood dining table. With a circular 5ft 2in (1.57m) diameter tilt top – a good 8in (20cm) bigger than usual, allowing for eight people rather than six – it had, however, been repolished. This deterred the trade but not private bidders one of whom took the table with its moulded stiff leaf support on tripart base and paw feet, at £2800.
Bouton connection takes centre stage in Beds
WITH a £120,000 total from some 500 lots catering for most areas of antiques, the September 18 sale held by Douglas Ross (15% buyer’s premium) at Woburn was a sound, if unspectacular, start to the autumn season for the Bedfordshire rooms.
