Tennants Auctioneers’ sale of Textiles, Costume and Fashion on 18th August saw high demand and strong prices for antique costume and textiles – with the quality and good condition of lots offered reflected in a total hammer price of £71,630 and 96% sold rate.
The two top lots of the sale came from the talented and dexterous fingers of young seamstresses. The first was a very fine early 19th century quilt, with an unusual embroidered central panel, which sold for £7,800 (plus buyer’s premium); worked by Hannah Langdale, aged 13, in 1834, the beautifully executed embroidery was in excellent condition, leading an exceptional price for such a quilt. The second lot was an early 19th century Scottish sampler, worked by Jean Anderson, when she was just 9 years old. Selling for £2,500 (plus buyer’s premium), the sampler was of the highest quality, and astonishing for a girl of such a young age.
The market for samplers overall is strengthening, and good prices were also gained for a decorative early 20th century sampler signed by Doris Moxon of Beverley and Whitby (£1,100 plus buyer’s premium), and an 18th century sampler by Isabella Barr, dated 1798 (£500 plus buyer’s premium).
A Private Family Collection from North Yorkshire consisting of 18th century costumes and accessories, also garnered strong prices. Beautifully preserved in a family home for generations, the collection included a range of embroidered silk waistcoats and silk dresses. The top lot of the collection went to a late 18th century hand painted Chinese silk dress, which was sold alongside several matching fabric remnants for £2,200 (plus buyer’s premium).
Other highlights of antique costume in the sale included a late 18th/early 19th century wooden doll, which sold for £1,600 (plus buyer’s premium), a pair of early 19th century lady’s heeled shoes, which sold for £1,400 (plus buyer’s premium), and a gent’s c1780 cream sild waist coat, which sold for £600 (plus buyer’s premium).
Also of note in the sale, attracting much attention, were a collection of original watercolour designs for wallpaper, lino and fabric by Jean Gossein of Gossein Brothers, Laces, Plain and Fancy Net Manufacturers. Executed between 1930 and 1950, these bold and colourful designs were sold in groups of twelve, and the top lot sold for £900 (plus buyer’s premium). A further installment of the designs will be included in the next Textiles sale on 24th November.
The sale resulted in a total hammer price of £71,630 with 96% of the 274 lots sold.
Tennants are currently accepting lots for the next sale of Costume & Textiles on 24th November 2018, please contact the saleroom on 01969 623780 or enquiry@tennants-ltd.co.uk for details.
