Monthly Auction Sale, Saturday, December 12, 2015

Royal British Legion Hall, Bourton-on-the-Water

MARTIN Lambert, Fine Art Auctioneer and Valuer was heard to remark “It was just like the old days, a saleroom packed full of happy clients that were spending money like no tomorrow!”

Ironically enough, this particular sale (the most successful of the year here at our Bourton saleroom) was not even actually originally scheduled, it only came to be when another larger sale was deferred until next year and it was decided to produce and promote this “extra” sale.

Self-evidently, this seasonal sale was full of items popular at this time of year and these included an excellent selection of fine wines, ports and Champagnes, exceptional gem set jewellery and a good entry of silverware.

When it came to the wines, dealers had to battle it out with private purchasers and consequently excellent results were achieved across the board here with only one bottle of Dom Perignon Champagne left unsold.

‘Original wooden case’ wines were taken to very high levels and these included twelve bottles of Romanee St Vivant at £700, a case of Pichon Longueville 1964 at £500 and the remarkable £1,050 that it took to secure a case of Chateau Margaux Grand Vin 1970.

Many Christmas gifts were unsurprisingly purchased within the jewellery section and once again, several lots here distinguished themselves with one ardent buyer purchasing a pair of 18 carat white gold, aquamarine and diamond earrings together with the matching diamond cluster ring for a combined total of £2,800.

Notwithstanding these superb results, £440 was tendered for an 18 carat gold opal and diamond ring, £560 was the price for a beautiful (yet remarkably simple and understated) gold solitaire diamond ring and just a few lots before this, an established client managed to secure a highly impressive South Sea pearl necklace (as a gift for his wife) with an 18 carat white gold diamond and aquamarine clasp that was pursued all the way to a round £1,000.

As is usual at these popular and well attended Bourton sales, a wide variety of eclectic items were offered and these included ceramics, glassware, bronzes, clocks and watches, paintings, hand knotted rugs, assorted furniture and the like and good results here included an early 20th century Royal Worcester Pot Pourri at £130 (despite damage), an unusual pair of 19th century French bronze and ormolu opposing candlesticks with the unusual feature of each having been mounted decoratively with a stag and a recumbent lamb lighting the way at £150, a cased nine carat yellow gold slim line pocket watch, the dial signed with no less than the Queen’s jewellers “Garrard & Co” this time at £230 and the £320 that it took to secure an early 18th century walnut chest (a trade purchase) that may well have achieved double this amount only four or perhaps five years ago.

A notable result within the ‘outside’ section was the £230 that changed hands for a large 19th century riveted copper copper, selling to the high end trade and much admired by all who saw it pre-sale.

The day, naturally enough, was a great success for vendors, buyers and the auctioneers alike and it was fitting tribute to all the hard work and effort that had gone in to producing the very last auction sale staged by the auctioneers in 2015.

The first sale of 2016 will be held at the same venue of the Royal British Legion Hall, Bourton-on-the-Water on Saturday, January 16, and entries are currently being invited for this sale with the absolute final closing date at 10am on Monday, January 4.

For any further sale information required please contact Fine Art Auctioneer Martin Lambert direct on 01451 821666 or email the Fine Art Department on fineart@taylerandfletcher.co.uk

Tayler and Fletcher would like to take this seasonal opportunity to wish all our existing clients a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. We look forward to 2016 with several exciting progressive changes planned for our Fine Art Department, please follow our website for the latest up to date information.

taylerandfletcher.co.uk