Auction Report - Antiques & Fine Art, 15th September, 2014
On Monday 15th September, Fellows & Sons held their fourth auction of Antiques & Fine Art this year. As one of the UK’s leading auction houses, specialising in antiques, jewellery, and watches, Fellows have a strong international client base which was demonstrated by the amazing worldwide attention and bidding some of the star lots received.
As always, the auction opened on a particularly splendid lot: a Rene Lalique opalescent glass 'Ronsard' vase. Despite needing some repair, the rare pattern attracted great attention, ensuring the day’s bidding began with all platforms alight – saleroom, telephone and internet – and reached a good price of £2,000.
Featured as the auction catalogue’s cover lot, in Fellows online blog posts and in specialist advertising, a large 1930s Italian Lenci ceramic cockerel headed up a fantastic selection of items from the infamous and quirky Lenci factory. Receiving attention and enquiries from around the world, Fellows were able to accommodate all bidders by providing telephone lines in three different languages. The competitive bidding and mix of languages created a tense and exciting atmosphere in the saleroom as the prices kept climbing. The highest price of the group was earned by a characteristically weird and peculiar ceramic jug from the Italian factory, modelled as a grey-bearded portly figure holding a tree branch in one hand (as the handle) and a knife in the other. The hammer finally fell at £3,200 after an exhaustive bidding match.
Amongst the varied and diverse sections of collector’s items in each auction, a few run-away lots always take everyone by surprise. Two lots, each comprising of two tortoiseshell and hallmarked silver photograph frames, were expected to fly through the bidding due to their great condition and uncommonly large size. Still, to the astonishment of everyone in the saleroom, and those watching online, the bidding for the frames soared to hammer prices of £1,300 and £1,700. Another fantastic surprise came from an odd little Japanese netsuke which had seemingly hidden itself, nestling in between some fine lots of Oriental ivories. The wooden netsuke, curiously modelled as a hooded and beaded face, had sparked interest amongst international bidders as soon as the auction catalogue was available online. However, even with enquiries and registered interests flying in, no one could have predicted a hammer price quite so high as the astounding £1,000 achieved.
A Victorian helmet of The Queen’s Life Guard, which, due to its fantastically good condition and rarity to ever come to auction, was expected to do remarkably well and attract the attention of collectors worldwide. During auction previews and public viewing, plenty of interest encouraged and confirmed our expectations, but once again, the saleroom was astonished at the ever climbing bids which reached a great hammer price of £1,300.
A nice clock section was highlighted by a fine George III mahogany cased twin fusee bracket clock, by Charles Howse, London, which sold for a good price of £2,800. Furthermore, a Cartier Art Deco-style silver-plated and lapis lazuli 'prism' mystery clock, which made for an interesting feature in the printed catalogue by the Fellows dedicated photography team, sold for £1,150.
Fellows are currently accepting consignments for their upcoming winter auction of Antiques & Fine Art, which is scheduled for late November. Being the fifth specialist antiques auction of the year, Fellows are hoping to continue increasing their sale numbers year upon year. If you would like further information about our auctions of Antiques & Fine Art, or would like to consign an item, please contact markh@fellows.co.uk.