New young collectors vie with keen Cornish for Troika

Now demand for both has spread far eastwards of the Tamar and Troika, in particular, has attracted many new younger collectors, a factor in all bar two of the 52 Troika offerings getting away at the latest 3051-lot outing on May 20-21.

The most unusual Troika entry was one of the highly desirable St Ives period love plaques. Measuring 14 3/4in x 5in (37cm x 13cm), the bronzed piece had blue, yellow and white detail, moulded with a white border with a central depiction of a kneeling couple embracing. Estimated at £500-800, it sold at £1500.

Other Troika entries included a bottle vase painted to one side with a bronzed flower head and to the other with a blue circular and geometric pattern.

Standing 6 1/4in (16cm) high, it left its £150-200 guideline standing, selling at £780.

Another bronze-glazed Troika piece was a 9 1/2in (24cm) Brancusi lamp base marked to the flared neck Louise McClary, the factory’s senior director from 1979-1981. It sold at £620.

Newlyn copper entries included an oval-section biscuit barrel and a square-section jug.

The barrel, decorated with galleons and shells and with an impressed mark, fetched £500 and the conical jug went above estimate at £350.

Also from Newlyn was an Arts and Crafts necklace with its original silver chain hung with four silver and oxblood enamelled pendant drops.

Stamped to the reverse Newlyn Enamel, it sold within estimate at £1500.

Two very different lots topped the day taking £2600 apiece.

One was a pair of bronzes by Pierre Laurel, one of a child and the other a satyr, seated on a marble base inscribed S.C.H. Davis, from Bentley Motors Ltd, Double 12-Hour Race 1929, Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Average 81.39mph.

Journalist Sammy Davis was one of the six celebrated Bentley Boys who dominated the Le Mans race in the late ’20s and early ’30s. The bronzes were consigned by his family.

The other £2600 seller was an Arts and Crafts walnut two-piece bedroom suite by Shapland and Petter.