News

By developing a range of specialist sales to attract specialist collectors from both the UK and abroad, Tennants has seen some exceptionally high hammer prices this autumn. Nick Lambert, Head of Collectables at Tennants says “It is by creating these dedicated sales and marketing them effectively that the best prices are achieved for our clients.”

In their sale of Scientific and Musical Instruments, Cameras and Tools on Saturday, 20th October Tennants sold a rare 19th Century floor standing Penny-in-Slot Symphonion Musical Disc Player for £9,500 (estimate £4,000-£6,000).  This rare machine plays three metal discs at the same time for a fuller sound and was sold along with 49 metal discs.  It sold to a private collector after failing to sell previously at another auction house having appeared on the BBC’s Flog It programme.

Tennants Sporting & Militaria Sale

Friday 26 October 10.30am

Ethnographica is booming at Tennants Auctioneers.  Desirable not only for its historical significance but also for its interior design applications, some of the tribal shields and masks are particularly sought after.

Tennants Auctioneers are delighted to welcome the leading expert on period Oak furniture, Victor Chinnery, to their Leyburn Auction Centre on Wednesday 17th October for a Free Valuation Day.   

Victor Chinnery has a wide knowledge and love of period oak furniture and is the author of the major work ‘Oak Furniture, The British Tradition’ published by The Antiques Collectors’ Club. He is also a specialist consultant to private and institutional clients advising on early furniture. Always keen to expand his research, Victor is delighted to meet owners of interesting pieces and welcomes the opportunity to share his extensive knowledge of this fascinating subject.

On Saturday, 20th October 2007 Tennants will be holding a specialist sale of musical instruments which includes some of the finest quality stringed instruments they have ever previously offered for sale.  For the professional musician there are some excellent violins including an 18th Century Italian Violin with two signed silver mounted bows estimated to sell for £6,000-£8,000 or a late 19th century French Viola estimated at £3,000-£5,000.  For the novice there is also a wide choice of more affordably estimated stringed instruments including violins, violas and guitars.

After breaking the world record in July for a first edition copy of Arthur Ransome’s children’s book ‘Swallows and Amazons’, Tennants are offering another first edition copy of the children’s book , again in its very rare dust jacket and in remark condition.   The copy which sold in July achieved an auction world record price of £6,500 smashing the previous world record of £5,000 held by a London auction house. This copy is estimated to sell for £3,000-£4000.

Teapots have always been a favourite with porcelain collectors, either the prized piece from an extensive service or a novelty shaped pot never really intended for use.

They are wonderful objects, ranging vastly in size and shape and being made in all manner of ceramic bodies including porcelain, pottery and stoneware, as well as silver, plate and other metals.

Tennants Auctioneers have seen a dramatic increase in interest in their Decorative Arts Sales throughout the last twelve months, with some exceptionally high prices being seen for the best pieces, especially Arts and Crafts furniture. 

In response to this interest, Tennants are hosting a talk in aid of Barnardos entitled ‘Decorative Arts: Designers and Makers of the 19th and 20th Centuries’ at Bishop Burton Village Hall, near Beverley on Wednesday, 26th September at 7.30pm.

Tennants Auctioneers were delighted with the reception they received to their recent Decorative Arts Sale which included many pieces of ultra modern design by some legendary designers and makers.

One of the highest performing lots was lot 63, a Stoneware Sake Bottle by Shoji Hamada (Japanese 1894-1978) which sold to a private collector from the Harrogate area for £3,000 (estimate £1,500-£2,000).  Although over 40 years old, this classic piece looked like it could have been made yesterday and as well as looking decorative, was likely to be an excellent investment.

Tennants Auctioneers of Leyburn have yet again broken a world record in their Rare Book Auction, held on Wednesday, 25th July. A first edition copy of Arthur Ransome’s children’s book ‘Swallows and Amazons’ in its very rare dust jacket and in excellent condition achieved an auction world record price of £6,500 smashing the previous world record of £5,000 held by a London auction house. Also in excellent condition, a first edition of ‘Swallowdale’ by the same author sold for £1,900, a result very close to the auction record.

Tennants Summer Sale of fine art and antiques, the fascinating range of which included a stuffed Hyena, a Victorian Concert Harp, a collection of Walking Sticks and a 1973 Datsun Sports Car realised a hammer total of £1.3 million.

The first day of the sale saw some exceptionally high prices for the world-famous Royal Worcester Porcelain with a 1950’s Tea Service (lot 50) painted by John Freeman with a mouthwatering assortment of apples, peaches, grapes and other fruits selling for £11,000 (estimate £2,000 -£3,000) and a pair of Fruit Painted Pot Pourri Vases and Covers (lot 56) selling for £5,800 (estimate £1,200 - £1,800).