Over 1,000 lots came under the hammer on 16th May at Tennants Auctioneers, with the Country House Sale, and the Jewellery, Watches and Silver Sale.
The top lot of the Country House Sale was a Set of Six ‘White Star Line’ 1st Class Porcelain ‘Crown’ Pattern Tea Plates, made circa 1912 and marked for Stonier & Co. of Liverpool, which sold for £3,800 (all figures exclude buyer’s premium). Stonier & Co. were the primary agents and suppliers of china and other wares to the White Star Line, and the present pattern was supplied to use on the Titanic, the White Star Line’s famed ship. Other notable ceramics in the sale included a Pair of Worcester Barr, Flight & Barr Sauce Tureens and Covers, made, circa 1810 (sold for £1,100), and a good collection of Royal Worcester sold very well throughout, and included a Set of Four Royal Worcester Porcelain Places that sold for £3,000.
Leading the furniture in the sale was a George I Giltwood and Beech-Framed Single Dining Chair, dating from the early 18th century, which sold well at £2,500. Good, practical furnishing pieces saw strong bidding, too, with a George III Oak and Mahogany-Crossbanded Housekeeper’s Cupboard with integral clock (sold for £900), an Early 20th Century Mahogany Office Storage Cupboard (sold for £1,000), and an attractive Regency Mahogany-Lined Bowfront Painted Chest of Drawers (sod for £2,600). Selling well above estimate, too, were a 19th Century Pocket Globe and Newton’s Miniature Terrestrial Globe, which sold for £2,000, an arresting painting by James Wright (c.1885-1947) entitled “Uncertain Weather”, which sold for £2,500, and a selection of stone troughs including a pair of D-shape form that sold for £3,000.
Interesting, quirky pieces of period and modern jewellery saw competitive bidding, leading to strong prices throughout the section. The market for good quality Victorian era jewellery is thriving, and a Mid-Victorian Micro Mosaic Bracelet featuring depictions of famous Roman ruins sold well above estimate at £1,500 despite imperfect condition, and a circa 1870 Diamond Snake Ring sold for £2,200. Dating from a little later was an Art Nouveau Enamel and Pearl Necklace in a desirable pastel colour palette that sold for £1,150. Art Deco is another popular era amongst jewellery buyers, and a striking Art Deco Sapphire and Diamond Brooch comprising interlinked hexagonal frames sold for £1,200 and a more modern Pearl Necklace with a Sapphire and Diamond Art Deco Style Clasp sold for £2,700. Modern Fabergé is perennially desirable, and an Enamel Necklace by Victor Mayer sold for £1,800. Also of note, was an Opal Pendant on Chain with a substantial and well-coloured stone (estimate: £2,200).
Good vintage wrist watches continue to sell well, and in the May sale notable lots include a 1940s Universal Dato-Compax Stainless Steel Calendar Chronograph Wristwatch (sold for £950), and a 1970s Jaeger LeCoultre Club Stainless Steel Automatic Day Date Centre Seconds Wristwatch (sold for £700). Amongst the collectable modern watches were a Fortis Flieger Stainless Steel Day/Date Chronograph (sold for £1,100), and a Tissot T-Race Moto GP Automatic Chronograph Wristwatch, one of a limited edition made in 2025 to celebrate Tissot’s 25-year partnership as the Official Timekeeper of the MotoGP World Championship (sold for £900). Amongst the pocket watches, a good 14 Carat Gold Full Hunter Chronograph Minute Repeater Lever Pocket Watch made circa 1900 by Bernard Reber of Locle, Switzerland sold for £4,000.
It was another strong sale for silver, and the top lot of the sale was an Extensive George VI Silver Table-Service by George Butler and Co. of Sheffield that sold for £17,500. One of the most interesting lots in the sale was a 16th Century Silver-Gilt Chalice and Provincial Silver Pattern, the latter made circa 1570 by Christopher Hunton of York, that sold for £3,600. Further interesting lots sold included a German Silver and Enamel Cigarette-Case dating from 1900 (sold for £650), an Elizabeth II Silver Dish by Asprey and Co. Ltd (sold for £500), and an Elizabeth II Silver-Gilt ‘Gem’-Set and Specimen Mineral Bird Ornament in the manner of Asprey (sold for £3,800). Amongst the Objects of Vertu in the sale, two examples of Dunhill’s ‘Aquarium’ Lucite Ware in the Manner of Ben Shillingford attracted competitive bidding, with a Cigarette Box selling for £5,500, and a Table Lighter selling for £4,600.
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