Our Winter Fine Art & Antiques Auction produced strong results across all departments, signalling a strong appetite for fine works from sought-after artists and designers.

Our Paintings department included a strong and varied selection of artists both historic and contemporary.  A festive depiction of Skaters by the mound by Louis Sinclair McNally achieved £3,864*, while a depiction of a Boatyard in Johnshaven by John Bellany sold for £5,409*. Two famous screenprints by Banksy (Laugh Now and Trolleys) were hotly contested by multiple phone bidders, selling for £16,744* and £25,438*.  Richard Thomas Moynan’s depiction of a Dublin Street Boy tripled its low estimate, selling for £7,728*, while Benno Schotz’s model of a boy-bather soared to £12,236*, a record for the Estonian artist. 

                  Sold: £5,409*                                          Sold: £3,864*                                                                 Sold: £25,438*                                              Sold: £12,236*                           

William Thomas Murdoch’s famous depiction of the fictional capture of a Polar Bear at the hands of a whaler, “The Last Cartridge” is known by many Scots. Sold on behalf of The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, the work achieved £16,744*. An important work by marine artist William Lionel Wyllie sparked frenzied bidding. Bi-planes over Ypres, directly from the family of the artist and housed in it’s original exhibition frame, achieved £19,964*.

  Sold: £16,744*                                                                  Sold: £19,964*

Quality diamonds took the top spots in our Jewellery department. From a Cartier pendant (£3,864*) and ring (£9,016*), to a substantial three stone (£4,508*), an antique diamond ring (£6,182*) and a line bracelet (£4,894*), high carats and quality were the common theme. A 4ct diamond ring mounted in platinum achieved the top price of £15,456*.

                         Sold: £3,864*                                                Sold: £9,016                                            Sold: £4,508                                               Sold: £15,456*

Quality pieces from the 19^th century proved to be the top lots in our Furniture department. A Gillows chamber table achieved £579*, while an impressive bishop’s throne sold for £708*. The top-selling lot was a pair of arts and crafts chandeliers which sold for £837*.

                                  Sold: £579*                                                  Sold: £708*                                                 Sold: £837*

Mid-century teak furniture continues to be a hot area of collecting in our 20^th Century Design department. An armchair by Peter Hvidt & Orla Molgaard-Nielsen sold for £708*, while the ever-popular G Plan table & chairs raced above their estimate, selling for £540*.  Contemporary versions of pieces from previous eras attracted also attracted strong bidding. A Mackintosh-inspired dining table and chairs sold for £966*, while a Louis XV style bed achieved £1,674*.

                     Sold: £708*                                                                 Sold: £966*                                        Sold: £1,674*

Horology enthusiasts were busy bidding for the fine selection of clocks within our European Ceramics department. Two nearly identical mantel clocks from The Glasgow firm T.S Cuthbert sold for £4,894* and £5,152* respectively, while two works from the famous Vulliamy family attracted spirited bidding: a fruitwood library clock sold for £1,674*, while a rare 612 bracket clock sold for £6,440*. An extravagant French mantel clock also raced to a price of £3,864*.

                          Sold: £5,152*                                         Sold: £1,674*                                                 Sold: £6,440*                                               Sold: £3,864*

Diverse works from our Asian & Ethnic Arts department saw strong international bidding.  A private collection of fine Satsuma wears achieved a total price of £3,078*. Animal depictions also sold well: An ornithological pith paper album sold for £837*, while an impressive bronze lion roared to a price of £1,674*. An extremely rare mammoth tusk chess piece from the Middle East attracted the interest of multiple international bidders. After a tense phone bid battle, the piece finally sold for £8,372*.

               Sold: £837*                                                 Sold: £1,674                                                                         Sold: £8,372 

Quality makers and rare accoutrements were the top-selling lots in the Silver & Objects of Vertu department. A set of four goblets made by Garrard sold for £579*, while a set of six Spanish silver cava cups achieved £644*. A rare dated Scottish plaid brooch almost tripled its high estimate, selling for £772*. A rare ewer by the renowned Elkington produced a strong price of £1,159*.

Sold:  £644*                                                              Sold: £579*                                                          Sold: £1,159*                                                   Sold: £772*

Items with strong provenance achieved top prices within our Militaria department. A medal group of seven awarded to Colonel Harold Wyllie sold for £2,576*, while the watch of Lieutenant-General Sir John Bennet Hearsey sold for £2,833*. Weapons both fake and real were popular within our Collectables department. A bronze signal cannon shot to £772*while a model of James Bond’s golden gun achieved £1,932*.

Sold: £2,576*                                                                Sold: £2,833*                                                   Sold: £772*                                                        Sold: £1,192*

Full results from our Winter Fine Sale can be viewed here.