The Value of Vintage

Vintage costume from the 1930s to 1950s was much in demand in Tennants Auctioneers’ Costume, Accessories and Textiles Sale on 8^th February, with a raft of new bidders pushing prices well above estimate. Highlights of the section included a group of 12 assorted day robes and dressing gowns from the 1930s to 1950s, which sold for £1,000 (plus buyer’s premium) against an estimate of £150-250, and a group of circa 1940s ladies’ and gentlemen’s clothes, which sold for £800 (plus buyer’s premium) against an estimate of £150-250; both lots were favoured for their stylish prints and strong tailoring. This period of early 20^th century costume remained a firm favourite with buyers. A selection of rare Edwardian era dresses sold well, too, with an Edwardian cream silk evening dress and a cream silk wedding dress selling for £850 (plus buyer’s premium). An elegant early 20^th century Liberty’s eau-de-nil wool cape sold for £480 (plus buyer’s premium).

The sale also saw the first part of the Jane Wilson Collection of Perfume Bottles, an extraordinary and extensive array of over one thousand perfume bottles of all shapes and sizes. Put together over a lifetime by the late Jane Wilson of West Yorkshire, the collection includes covetable large-scale advertising factices or dummy bottles. The collection drew strong bidding both online and in the saleroom, and many lots sold well above estimate. Notable results included a large ‘Escada’ by Margarethe Ley factice, which sold for £280 (plus buyer’s premium), against an estimate of £80-120, and a group of five assorted late 19^th and early 20^th century scent bottles, which sold for £380 (plus buyer’s premium).

Luxury designer accessories saw strong results, too, with desirable Mulberry bags, Hermès scarves and vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases amongst the sale highlights. A Chanel quilted black jersey handbag, made circa 1994-1996 sold for £1,200 (plus buyer’s premium) against an estimate of £500-800, when it sold to a delighted buyer in the room, whilst a Hermès Jige taupe leather clutch bag sold for £700 (plus buyer’s premium), against an estimate of £200-400.

The top lot of the whole sale, however, was an early 20^th century Chinese lightweight Summer Dragon robe and skirt, which sold for £2,300 (plus buyer’s premium). Woven in blue and silver, the robe and skirt were sold to a Chinese buyer, well above the £300-500 estimate.

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