The best seller of the day was a 1930’s combined cigarette box and lighter modelled as a cocktail bar with a black barman. The 7in (18cm) high novelty lighter was something of a rarity and took £1200 against hopes of £70-100.
In the toys and dolls section, an early 20th century French bisque headed girl character doll with jointed composition body, original mohair wig, sleeping blue eyes and an open mouth showing a tongue and two teeth. Apart from the legs, which needed restringing, condition was good and it got away at £460.
Elsewhere a Victorian-style pine miniature dresser base with a quantity of Wedgwood bone china miniature pieces took £300 and a Susie Cooper 28-piece Printemps pattern part-dinner and tea service brought £290.
Novelty cigarette box lights up the day
SPECIALIST collector markets provided the highlights at Locke & England's Warwickshire salerooms where the 524-lot mixed sale on April 3 (12.5% buyer's premium) included sections catering to special interests in textiles, 20th century pottery and porcelain, toys and games and novelty silver.
