Saturday 7th July, might be the last of the online only auctions at Batemans, with the prospect of social distancing restrictions being lifted later this month, and a return to normality in August. The sale featured the extensive Christopher Elliott military collection, various items from the sculptor Doreen Kern, as well as the regular impressive array of privately entered lots.... prices were strong across all sections and Batemans is leading the charge!
The sale opened with big prices on the first two lots, especially lot 2 - a cracking, but uncracked, 18th century Chinese porcelain circular saucer dish dating from the mid Qing Dynasty, which was the star attraction in the sale! The ‘peach bloom’ glazed dish generated frenzied activity across the four telephone bidders and internet bidding platforms, selling for an astonishing £13,800 (including 20% BP)!
Soon after the high levels of pre-sale interest shown in lot 11 pre-sale were matched in bidding as the two pieces of Clarice Cliff 'Autumn Crocus' pattern teapots sold for £982 (including 20% BP).
As the sale marched onwards and upwards into the large militaria section, which included part of the Christopher Elliott collection, pieces (quite literally fragments) of WWI and WWI aircraft achieved sky high prices. However, it was the privately entered lot 180, a DFC medal group which proved to be the stand out lot from this section. It featured medals and ephemera from three brothers, all trained as WWII navigators, with the two eldest being killed in action, it sold for a thoroughly deserving £3,015 (including 20% BP).
The sporting section, and in particular lot 203 'No 2 Breaking Cover', a painting by Edward Benjamin Herberte (British, 1857-1893), left a trail of underbidders before eventually succumbing to the winning bid of £3,000 (including 20% BP). A worthwhile result following the hour-long research we had undertaken to decipher the barley legible signature!
Various pieces from the Doreen Kern collection achieved good prices, with the much sought after lot 278, an Arts & Crafts mirror with copper frame, selling for £624 (including 20% BP). It had been entered with modest pre-sale estimates but such is the current trend for this period of design that it thoroughly smashed them!
The collection also included a good quality range of fine and more modern furniture, among these highlights was another Arts & Crafts piece, lot 295, a Liberty style wardrobe which made an excellent £600 (including 20% BP), and lot 310, a seemingly ordinary 19th century pine refectory table, which had two telephone bidders battling it out until it finally sold for a rather extraordinary £2,640 (including 20% BP)! When two people really want something then prices can skyrocket!
With our monthly antiques sales (Fine Art, Antiques & Specialist Collectors) and our specialist quarterly sales (Jewellery & Watches, Silver, Gold & Coins), if you are considering putting items into auction, then given the current high prices for fine collectables, paintings and good quality furniture, and Batemans extremely competitive commission rate of 15% (12.5%+VAT), contact us to discuss valuations and consignments:
