News & Insights

Clockwork St Nicholas Sells for £5,900

27th May 2026.

A rare and very usual early 20^th century clockwork automaton of St Nicholas riding a donkey sold for £5,900 in the Fashion, Costume and Textiles Sale at Tennants Auctioneers on 22^nd May (all figures exclude buyer’s premium). In German tradition, St Nicholas rides through town on a donkey in early December, delivering treats and rewards into the shoes children have left out. After a heated bidding battle, the automaton was sold to a European buyer.

In a lively sale, colourful Chinese textiles were in high demand, with a Pair of Early 20^th Century Chinese Face Screens or Palace Fans selling well above estimate at £1,700. Selling, well, too, was a Circa 1900 Chinese Turquoise Skirt (sold for £950, a Late 19^th Century Chinese Red Silk Robe (sold for £750), and an Early 20^th Century Mint Green Woven Silk Chinese Robe (sold for £750).

Early 20th Century German St Nicholas and Donkey Clockwork
Pair of Early 20th Century Chinese Face Screens or Palace Fans
Early 20th Century Mint Green Woven Silk Chinese Robe
Circa 1920s/30s Egyptian Revival Applique Panels
An 18th Century Silk Brocade Open Robe
An Early 20th Century Evening Coat
Circa 1990s Judith Dunger Chinoiserie Dolls House Bedroom Suite

Early to mid-20^th century textiles saw strong prices, too, with a Mid-20^th Century Fortuny Panel selling for £1,100. Fortuny is a Venice-based company, who have been producing fine luxury and printed fabrics since it was founded by Spanish artist and designer Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo in 1921. A pair of Circa 1920s/30s Egyptian Revival Appliqué Panels sold for £650, and an interesting lot of Early 20^th Century A Sirooni New York Hand-Coloured Fabric Designs sold for £850. Fabric samples and designs continue to attract high levels of interest at auction, and a group of Circa 1920s/30s French Fabric Sample Books including examples by Gillet & Fils, Bianchi Férier and Negretti and Zambra sold well at £900.

Amongst the fashion and costume in the sale, an Early 20^th Century Printed Cotton Dress and White Cotton Muslin Two-Piece sold well at £550, and an 18^th Century Silk Brocade Open Robe sold for £500. Dating from the 20^th century was an Evening Coat featuring gold floral geometric and floral motifs and decorated with feathers and velvet, which sold for £600.

Finally, a beautifully made suite of Chinoiserie Doll’s House Furniture made in the 1990s by Judith Dunger, sold very well at £700.

The sale achieved a total hammer price of £58,015 with a 91% sold rate for 278 lots.

View Results