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More Collectables from the back of the drawer !
Continuing my theme of ‘everyday collectables which can make surprising prices’ I must report that our February Antiques sale saw record prices for such items with online bidding stronger than ever. It seems collectors from around the world are really waking up to the idea that they can search and buy directly from salesrooms and seek out the items of their hearts desire - however obscure.
For example a small Fry’s Chocolate shop display cabinet in poor condition containing a small collection of antique packaging items made an astounding £330. This was after a substantial amount of interest from a number of collectors requiring condition reports and additional photographs. The cabinet had been languishing in the depths of a large house in Longhope with little thought of it’s potential value.
Amber beads are also an item which are suddenly selling incredibly well to the Chinese - the amber has to be ‘butterscotch’ yellow in colour (not the clear amber popular in the west). Amber is made from fossilised tree resin and should feel quite lightweight and warm to the touch. This broken necklace sold to a Chinese bidder for £1600 in Smiths February sale - so it is definitely time to have a look through any costume jewellery boxes to see if there is any old amber lurking there.
Other Chinese items also continue to sell well and this austere looking 18th century Chinese bronze censer (incense burner) attracted huge pre-sale interest. It could be the sort of non-descript item that ‘Grandma kept her pot plant in for years’ but this one sold at Smiths for £1,250. Often sought after Chinese antiques made for the home market tended to be very plain and simple, with concentration on simple lines and superb craftsmanship – this can make them easy to overlook to the novice.
This group of antique lace makers bobbins again might well be lurking at the back of a dusty old drawer but specialist collectors pay good money for genuine old bobbins of turned wood and ivory. This collection sold for £150 – once again on the internet. There is also a strong market for antique sewing collectables such as treen bodkin cases, interesting thimbles, needle cases etc.
Textiles and costume items are selling well at present and this box of antique lace pieces made £200 whilst a beautiful Victorian fine lace christening gown made £300. Smiths sale on the 4th April has a large selection of textiles and costume including a stunning 1920’s blue beaded flapper dress estimated at £100/£150 and a selection of 1930’s black lace evening wear all in quite wearable sizes for a change !!
Smiths next sale on the 9th May is hosting the BBC’s Antiques Road Trip with Margie Cooper and Paul Laidlew as the guest experts. The sale has a special section for silver and jewellery and entries are invited from the 7th April – please telephone for details or see our website. Rita Kearsey MRICS, Manager Smiths Auction Rooms, Newent
See our advert on page 24 for details of the next auction