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When the pandemic hit, Fellows reacted quickly. Pivoting their live public auctions to a timed, online only format allowed one of the UK’s leading auction houses to thrive during the first nation-wide lockdown. In the face of a second national lockdown, the independent, family-run business’ outlook is optimistic.
“People are becoming accustomed to the timed bidding format,” says Stephen Whittaker, managing director at Fellows, where more than three-quarters of auctions held in 2020 will be timed (50 out of 65). “Many of our timed auctions are seeing a very high percentage of items sell, notably our first-ever Designer Collection timed sale in June which saw 91% of items sold, and our Online Jewellery sales in April and May seeing 93% and 92% sold-rates respectively. Our Watches auctions are also continuing to attract hundreds of new bidders”. In April, the auction house’s record for participants in an auction was broken when the Watches auction saw over 1,600 bidders taking part.
The auction house’s success in these difficult times is due to the agility of their team to adjust to new ways of working and the management’s willingness to give more to the customer than ever before. Fellows offers virtual viewings over zoom at a time to suit the bidder, as well as free worldwide shipping on 90% of the items it sells.
The auctioneers are offering free, no-obligation virtual valuations, in addition to their standard online valuation portal. “We are thrilled to still be able to connect with our clients during this isolated time. Using Zoom, our clients welcome us into their homes (often with a cup of tea!) and we are able to share our expertise with them”. Lindsay Beardmore, Jewellery Specialist, explains. “Although a video call has its limitations, we have been able to share some tricks of the trade with our clients so that we can value accurately.” Beardmore credits the humble kitchen scales and good lighting as key valuer’s tools, along with a jeweller’s loupe and years of experience. With Antiques Roadshow-type of events off the calendar for the foreseeable future, Fellows’ online valuations are now busier than ever. The valuation team has being virtually assessed just shy of £1million worth of items in the last 6 months.
The auction house is now preparing for a busy month in the lead up to Christmas. There are still 10 auctions left on the calendar before Father Christmas pays his visits around the world. Fellows are hoping to capitalise on their wide range of price-points to appeal to savvy shoppers looking to get more for their money this year. “Our Designer Collection auction on November 23rd is set to be particularly popular with bidders” shares Stephen Whittaker. It is no surprise when one can pick up a Gucci handbag for less than £200. The prices in Fellows’ auctions range from £150 for a pair of plain gold and diamond earrings to £150,000 for a rivière necklace with 40 cts of diamonds.
A silver half hunter pocket watch by C. Frodsham has smashed its auction estimate of £70 – £100 and sold for a whopping £1,914.00 (including fees). The alluring timepiece, sold alongside two other pocket watches, featured as Lot 227 in Fellows’ Online Watches & Watch Accessories sale, which ended on Monday 3rd August. The lot received over 50 bids and was one of the standout items in the auction.
Charles Frodsham (1810-1871), quickly established himself in the watch industry in the mid-19th century, working on chronometers. He went on to become vice chairman of the Horological Institute. His firm (Charles Frodsham & Co), designed this pocket watch nearly twenty years after Charles Frodsham’s death, with the pocket watch containing hallmarks for 1890. The magnificent timepiece features a signed keyless wind movement with a ratchet tooth lever escapement. The C. Frodsham pocket watch was sold alongside a silver open face pocket watch and a white metal full hunter pocket watch.
A silver half hunter pocket watch by C. Frodsham
Fellows’ Online Watches & Watch Accessories timed auction on Monday 3rd August ran for a total of ten-and-a-half hours, with the first lot closing at 9am and the final lot ending at 7:30pm. Fellows has had incredible success with their timed, online-only auctions recently, with a timed auction of watches being a white glove sale in September 2019 and a timed watches auction receiving record registrants in April 2020. Fellows has a history for selling important Frodsham pieces. In 2016 a rare Frodsham campaign clock was bought at a Fellows auction by Charles Frodsham & Co. for £9,500.
Michael Jagiela, Senior Watch Specialist from Fellows Auctioneers, said: “I am ecstatic that there still seems to be a strong demand for historic pocket watches. This particular example by C. Frodsham was undoubtedly the highlight of our Online Watches & Watch Accessories auction and we are overwhelmed at the sheer volume of bids it received. We are currently accepting consignments of pocket watches for our upcoming auctions.”
Fellows Auctioneers held their best auction of Antiques, Silver & Collectables in years with over 1,000 bidders and the majority of items selling. Many items soared above their estimates, including many lots of Irish silver in the auction flying above their estimate prices. The Antiques, Silver & Collectables auction, which ended on Monday 27th July, lasted over ten hours and many items received over 100 bids.
A collection of furniture, including a carved and moulded gilt wood sofa
A collection of furniture, including a carved gilt wood sofa, and a gilt wood elbow chair sold for a whopping £13,000 against an estimate of £100 to £150. There was an array of Irish silver at the beginning of the sale which all fetched fantastic prices. An early 18th century Irish silver twin-handled cup & cover sold for a hammer price of £2,300, against an estimate of £800 – £1,200, and a pair of William IV Irish silver coasters of twin-handled barrel form sold for a hammer price of £3,000 against an estimate of £500 – £700.
The sale was on Fellows’ website for a number of weeks as antique collectors flocked to bid on the 638-lot timed auction. The sale featured glassware, ceramics, porcelain, paintings, clocks, and furniture. The huge variety included historic and modern items along with the weird and wonderful.
A late 20th century life size carved marble head and shoulders bust by Raniero Sambuci, modelled as a classical male.
Kevin Jackson, Auctioneer and Antiques Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “Our Antiques, Silver & Collectables auction conjured up some of the best prices in recent years. This was the first time we have ever switched the entire auction to a timed, online-only format and we are delighted that our customers seem to enjoy the online bidding experience. There were many highlights throughout this sale, with the Russian kovsh and the carved gilt sofa in particular selling for huge prices.”
Fellows currently has a two-day Silver & Costume Jewellery sale closing this week. The auction features 834 lots of diverse items with competitive estimates. A large section of this sale will also be auctioned for charitable causes. The auction can be viewed via Fellows’ website here.
Selected highlights from the Antiques, Silver & Collectables auction on 27th July (price realised includes fees):
- Lot 602 – A collection of furniture to include, a carved and moulded gilt wood sofa, a gilt wood elbow chair, etc. Estimate: £100 – £150. Price realised: £16,588.00.
- Lot 13 – A pair of William IV Irish silver coasters of twin-handled barrel form. Estimate: £500 – £700. Price realised: £3,828.00.
- Lot 634 – A 19th century boulle work cabinet, the rouge marble top above, an ebonised front with boulle work panelled frieze and similar panelled door. Estimate: £500 – £600. Price realised: £3,381.40.
- Lot 378 – A late 20th century life size carved marble head and shoulders bust by Raniero Sambuci, modelled as a classical male. Estimate: £300 – £400. Price realised: £2,488.20.
- Lot 40 – An early 18th century Irish silver twin-handled cup & cover. Estimate: £800 – £1,200. Price realised: £2,934.80.
Posted in All, Antiques, News
Tagged antiques, auction, collectables, irishsilver, silver, timed
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Penelope Gilliver, Cataloguer from the Jewellery Department at Fellows, has been researching tanzanite ahead of Fellows’ auction of Gemstones, which ends on Friday 29th May.
Sourced from only one location, the Merelani Hills of Tanzania, tanzanite in its finest form is a highly sought-after precious gem, with a luxurious range of hues, rivalling the beauty of similarly coloured stones, such as sapphire. With strong pleochroism, meaning the gemstone can show different colours when viewed at different directions in the crystal, it can be cut to show rich blue-purple hues, or more delicate violet hues; the scope of colours is fantastic. The pleochroism is usually visible to the unaided eye, and is a fascinating and pleasing feature to see in this gemstone.
Tanzanite is relatively new in the world of gemstones, only being discovered in 1967. The luxury jeweller Tiffany & Co gave this gemstone its name, and realising its potential for desirability, launched its popularity in 1968 with a publicity campaign. Due to tanzanite being available from just one country, this produced an instant element of rarity to the gemstone, so you can feel certain you have a valuable and special stone in your life.
An example of tanzanite gems from Fellows’ May 2020 auction of Gemstones
Tanzanite is a popular gemstone to be used in jewellery. Whether it be the rich and vivid colours, or the soft and elegant violet hues of this gemstone, it is a beautiful stone to have as a part of your jewellery or loose gem collections. With a hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, tanzanite has a fairly good durability, and is stable enough to be used in jewellery; it is always advised to be cautious and avoid wearing your tanzanite when handling cleaning chemicals, or conducting activities in which your jewellery can be knocked and scratched. All you need to use to clean your tanzanite is some soapy water, this is sufficient enough to keep them looking sparkling and bright.
“Some specimens, like any other in the commercial gemstone world, are given a helping hand with their colour, to produce the more desirable blue and violet hues. You don’t need to be disheartened by this fact, these basic treatments just mean you can see the full potential of the beautiful colours that are possible from these gemstones!”Penelope Gilliver, from Fellows’ Jewellery Department
A stunning tanzanite gem from the May 2020 Gemstones sale
Some facts about tanzanite:
- Typically forms as a prismatic crystal
- A tanzanite crystal will have striations on some crystal faces
- Naturally found as violet-blue and purple hues
- Zoisite is the gemstone family tanzanite belongs to
- A selection of gemstones tanzanite could be confused with are iolite, sapphire, blue spinel
- Named by Tiffany & Co
- Indication of heat treatment would be if there are only two pleochroic colours, blue and violet
- Tanzania is the home of Tanzanite
- Examples that are large in size are more rare
Lindsay Beardmore, Specialist & Catalogue Manager from Fellows Auctioneers, has been putting together Fellows’ Jewellery auctions. Lindsay has chosen some of her favourite items to go under the hammer over the Spring period.
Spring 2020 has brought us the usual things, flowers have started to bloom and the days have grown longer, however alongside the spring time normality, for the first time ever the staff at Fellows have had to work remotely. Overall it has been a challenge, from putting auctions together remotely, hosting zoom meetings and for the first time ever hosting an auction from the managing director’s family home!
Luckily for us, we have had some fantastic lots to offer our customers, and the hammer prices they’ve achieved have proved this! So I have therefore had the pleasure of selecting a few spring highlights that have gone under the hammer this Spring!
Jewellery Sale on 26th March:
Lot 2 – Burmese ruby and old-cut diamond ring, £350-450.
The unique aspect of this ring is not only the striking colour of the 2.80cts ruby but the fact that it is entirely natural with no indications of heat treatment! This piece was also accompanied with a GCS report! Naturally this piece sold for a hammer price of £750!
Lot 7 – A Belle Époque 18ct gold rose-cut diamond necklace. Estimate: £400-600.
During the early 20th century, the Belle Époque was a design movement that embraced nature. This gorgeous necklace showcases this delicate movement perfectly, whilst being beautifully set with rose-cut diamonds. This pretty piece achieved a hammer price of £620.
Lot 173 – A late 19th century circular-shape ruby and old-cut diamond horseshoe brooch. Estimate: £300-400.
More recently brooches are catching the attention of bidders and are becoming more popular at auction. During the 19th century, people were believing more and more in superstitions, so horseshoes were worn or gifted to protect the wearer from evil and to symbolise good luck. The hammer price for this lucky lot was £540. The bidder should ensure the horse shoe is worn upwards, to avoid all the good luck pouring out!
Jewellery Sale on 16th April:
Lot 11 -A Georgian gold turquoise fob watch. Estimate: £200-300.
This fabulous ornate pocket watch was in a particularly good condition considering the age of the piece. The fob watch earned a well-deserved hammer price of £500!
Lot 13 – A composite late 19th century gold and platinum natural saltwater pearl and old-cut diamond pendant, suspended from an integral fancy-link chain. Estimate: £300-400.
Many of the pearls that we come across on our desks tend to be cultured, this is the norm throughout the jewellery trade. This particular piece is set with a natural saltwater pearl, a fascinating piece to handle, so it makes sense that it achieved a respectable of hammer price of £560!
Lot 136 – A late 19th century gold and silver gem set butterfly brooch. Estimate: £350-450.
During the 19th century, symbolism was the trend for all pieces of jewellery. Butterflies were worn to represent embracing change, rather than fearing it. A brave bidder won this pretty piece for £750!
The above lots are just a small selection of jewellery we have had the pleasure of selling this spring, whilst working remotely!
We currently have our online jewellery sale live on the website at the moment, so please head over to our online catalogue and see if you can find your perfect springtime purchase!
Posted in All, Jewellery
Tagged Fellows, highlights, Jewellery, jewellerysales, lockdown, online, spring, timed
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A cross pendant designed by the Vicar of Dibley herself, Dawn French, will be auctioned at Fellows Auctioneers. The 18ct gold ‘Heera’ diamond cross pendant was created in conjunction with the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS). With an estimate of £500 – £700, the elegant piece of jewellery features as Lot 377 in Fellows Jewellery Sale. The auction ends on Thursday 16th April.
The ‘Heera’ cut diamond was one of three new cuts created and patented at the beginning of the 21st century by Emdico. A Heera diamond consists of 49-facets and is a modified round brilliant cut. This means that the diamond reflects light in a unique way. As part of an initiative known as the ‘Dazzler Campaign’, celebrities such as Dawn French designed jewellery using these cuts to raise funds for the NOS. This National Osteoporosis Society is dedicated to improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. Years later the stunning pendant has come up for auction at the independent, family-run business in Birmingham.
The cross pendant designed by Dawn French
The gold cross pendant is suspended from a chain, and has an estimated total diamond weight of 0.25cts. With H-I colour and SI clarity, it has 2002 Hallmarks for London. Weighing 7.7gms, the length of the pendant is 3.5cms and the length of chain 43cms. It features in Fellows’ Jewellery auction, one of a series of timed auctions which will be run by Fellows Auctioneers in the coming months. This style of auction has become increasingly popular at Fellows as it makes the bidding process easily accessible to customers taking part in the auction from home.
Nicola Whittaker, Business Development Manager at Fellows Auctioneers, who consigned the pendant, said: “It’s fascinating consigning pieces to our auctions that were designed by celebrities as it adds something extra to the story behind them. This piece is particularly intriguing because the cut of the diamond is so unique and rare. It’s the perfect representation of beautiful jewellery that we continue to offer in our timed, online-only auctions and bids can be placed on the pendant now. I’m sure due to its history that the pendant won’t be short of interest.”
Fellows Auctioneers currently have auctions of Watches (ending 20th April), and Jewellery (ending 16th April), online via their website.
*David Coulthard did not own this watch, he signed the paperwork.
An extremely rare TAG Heuer watch with paperwork signed by David Coulthard after he beat Michael Schumacher in the 2002 Monaco Grand Prix is up for auction at Fellows Auctioneers. The limited edition gentleman’s stainless steel Carrera ‘Jack Heuer’ wrist watch is number 31 of 350 ever made and has an estimate of £1,900 – £2,200. The timepiece features as Lot 307 in Fellows’ timed Watches Sale which ends on Monday 20th April. Bids can be placed on this sale now.
The watch’s paperwork, dated 28th May 2002, was signed by David Coulthard following his victory in the Monaco Grand Prix on 26th May 2002, beating world-class renowned drivers such as Michael Schumacher. The watch was originally purchased at Nice airport, where it is believed David Coulthard signed the paperwork as TAG Heuer sponsored McLaren.
With the reference CV2114, this fascinating watch has a signed automatic movement, and a black dial with baton hour markers. It features subsidiary recorder dials to three, six and nine – with a date aperture between four and five, and an outer tachymeter track. The watch is fitted to a signed black leather strap with a stainless steel deployant clasp. It measures at 39mm and comes with box and papers, including the David Coulthard signature.
Steven Yambo, Senior Watch Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers, said: “It’s great having watches with a fascinating history behind them go under the hammer such as this amazing TAG Heuer. There aren’t many of these watches about and the fact this one had its paperwork signed by David Coulthard makes it even more special. I expect lots of bids and registrations on our Watches auction which can be bid on now and I’m sure all fans of fascinating watches and motorsport will have a keen interest in this lot.”
Steven Yambo, Senior Watch Specialist at Fellows Auctioneers
Fellows Auctioneers currently have auctions of Watches (ending 20th April), and Jewellery (ending 16th April), online via their website.
Fellows’ Online Watches & Watch Accessories auction, held on Monday 23rd September, was a white glove sale with every lot selling at a total hammer price of £124,080. This is indicative of the success of watch auctions that take place at the 143-year old family business. With watch parts, tools and boxes on offer, the 456-lot Online Watches & Watch Accessories sale proved there was plenty to appeal to both budding horology enthusiasts and professional watch repairers.
Highlights of the Online Watches & Watch Accessories auction included an array of sought-after watch boxes, and groups of watches from a variety of brands, ranging from Seiko to Tissot. With 100% of lots in the timed sale selling, it’s another indication that online timed auctions at Fellows in 2019 are thriving. Online timed auctions of Costume Jewellery, Gemstones, and Online Watches & Watch Accessories have all had very high sold rates at Fellows this year. Fellows also held a similarly successful live Watches auction simultaneously on Monday 23rd September, which featured 470 lots. The successful live Watches sale had a total hammer price of £108,615, making the total hammer price for both the live and timed auctions £232,695.
Steven Yambo, Senior Watch Specialist at Fellows, said: “I am proud that we managed to sell 100% of items in the Online Watches & Watch Accessories auction. The lots in this sale are always in high demand but I never expected such a great result from the sale. The market for second-hand watches and accessories at auction seems to be getting increasingly strong and hopefully it is a trend which continues.”
The next Online Watches & Watch Accessories auction at Fellows will take place on Monday 9th December 2019. The specialists are still welcoming consignments. Fellows’ next flagship watch auction The Watch Sale, showcasing timepieces from renowned watch brands such as Omega, Patek Philippe, and Rolex, will take place on Tuesday 15th October.
Online auctions flourish during COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns