Outshining all other entries in the 1574-lot second antiques sale on August 24-25 was a naturalistically cast and engraved George III silver cow creamer with a detachable head and floral collar weighing a substantial 57oz.
Standing over a milk pail, the 9 x 7in (23 x 18cm) beast bore 1812 London marks and was inscribed to the base W Gray, New Bond Street, London, together with the maker's initials IH. Consigned from a local family who had owned it for many years, Keys specialist Paul Goodley, who had estimated it at £3000-5000, said that on the morning of the sale there was speculation as to whether "it was right or not."
Plainly, enough people thought it was.
A major London silver dealer contested it on the telephone to the £6000 mark after which a private buyer and a Lincolnshire dealer battled for ownership. It was finally knocked down to the dealer at £13,250.
Two 19th century Continental pieces also sold well.
First up was an ormolu and porcelain panel casket with caryatid mounted corners and decorated with hand-painted scenes of famous Greek and Roman battles, which fetched £2600.
It was followed by a 2ft 2in (66cm) high carved marble bust of a veiled lady dating to 1877 and signed Giovanni Battista Lombardi (1823-1880) which brought £3100.
The clear favourite among buyers in the previous week's collectors' sale on August 19 was a Steiff teddy bear in strawberry plush with black boot button eyes. A good size at 2ft (60cm), it was contested to £1800.
Among the tinplate toys was a Lehmann clockwork Paddy and the Pig which took £500.
