Two pairs of Early 20th Century Crewelwork curtains exceeded all expectations when they sold for £5,000 (plus buyer’s premium) in Tennants Auctioneers’ Costume, Accessories and Textiles Sale on 26th May. Estimated to sell for £300-500, the curtains depicted a tree of life adorned with large exotic flower heads and colourful birds. The curtains once hung in the Billiard Room at Whittington Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale, a grand 19th century country house.
The demand for antique textiles continued with fine quilts seeing strong prices, led by a beautifully preserved Early 19th Century Cotton Appliqué Bed Cover, decorated with flowerheads, birds and patchwork shapes, which sold for £900. From the same vendor came another unusual coverlet of the same date, with a sampler worked into the centre of the design that was executed by Martha Curchin, who was thought to have lived in the Newark area (sold for £600). Selling well above estimate, too, was a circa 1870 Chinoiserie Wholecloth Quilt, which sold for £700.
Strong bidding was also seen for dolls in the sale, with a collection of Sasha dolls all selling well. Sasha dolls are named after their Swiss designer, artist Sasha Morgenthaler; made in Germany and the UK from the late 1960s, they became collectable, admired for their individualism, realistic expressions and attention to detail. Highlights of the collection included a lot comprising a Late 1960s/Early 1970s Sasha and Gregor Sasha, which sold for £1,300; the girl doll was an early model without a philtrum. Also selling well was a circa 1870 French Fashion Doll with a bisque socket head, which together with a 20th Century bisque head doll sold for £1,100.
Amongst the modern designer costume and accessories in the sale was a circa 2000 Chanel Boutique Wool Mix Pink Dress Suit, which sold for £1,100. A private collection of 1990s designer fashion which belonged to London journalist Janet Menzies also sold well, led by a circa 1995 Atelier Versace Cream Silk Crepe Evening Gown (sold for £850), and a circa 1996 Alexander McQueen Black Leather Jacket (sold for £500). As ever, Louis Vuitton luggage continues to attract devoted followers, and amongst the good offering in the sale was a circa 2005 Louis Vuitton Hinged Jewellery Case, which sold for £2,000.
Finally, two Chinese Robes attracted international interest, with a Red Silk example selling for £800, and a Blue Silk example selling for £500.
Tennants are now accepting entries into their next Costume, Accessories and Textiles Sale on 19th August.
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