A consignment of good quality nearly new woodworking tools from a local vendor whose husband died recently very unexpectedly, was the highlight of Thimbleby & Shorland’s monthly General Sale held on Saturday 24th June. A Hammer A331 planer/thicknesser dated 2012 made £900, a Festool router and accessories sold for £520, and a Hammer H4400 band saw, also 2012, made £500 and an Xcalibur 240v table saw £490. A festool mitre saw and a box of excellent quality tools both made £350. A large variety of Lie Nielsen woodworking planes made from £300 to £70 each.
Also in this section of the sale a Belle Masonry saw bench made £450, a Promac P600 generator £400 and a Husqvarna cot off saw £150. A year old Kymco mobility scooter sold for £400; a pair of staddle stones £120; and a Pinarello Racing Bike was sold on the instructions of the Official receiver for £360.
Lot 63 – Oak octagonal display table
In the General Antiques section of the sale 540 lots were offered in good time by auctioneer Chris Boreham, with the sale starting at 9.30 and finishing at 1.30, so an average of 135 lots per hour. “Ordinary” furniture continues to meet a very difficult trade with little or no demand for things such as dining room tables, sofas, display cabinets and wardrobes. More unusual “quirky” items, often made of old pine, are of interest however and can sometimes surprise, such as an old pine dresser bottom with handles missing and in need of repair generally, which made £70. A very nicely made small oak display table with octagonal top made £65, showing that there is demand for quality. A relatively rare child’s galvanised tin hip bath sold for £40, and a good old pine blanket box £60.
Lot 159 – Early 19th century Windsor armchair with yew wood arms, crinoline stretcher & elm seat
Lot 170 – 2 seat black painted wood framed dark cream leather upholstered sofa
The trade for chairs is also very patchy, but again quality shows and an early 19th Century Windsor open armchair with yew wood arms and a crinoline stretcher, again in need of some repair having had a fairly hard life, sold for £70. Sofas generally do not sell as buyers in this part of the world would rather buy the size, shape and colour that they want new rather than compromising on second-hand, but good leather ones do sell and a cream leather sofa with black painted frame made £80.
Lot 187 – Gilt ornate plaster framed & glazed watercolour of historical interior fight scene by Andrew Carrick Gow R.A. (1848-1920)
In the pictures section a water colour of a historical interior fight scene typical of work by Andrew Carrick Gow R.A. (1848 to 1920), from a deceased estate, sold for a very pleasing £420 against and estimate of £400 to £450. It is sobering however to think that 5 years ago it would have been worth close to £1000 more, but that demonstrates how artists go in and out of fashion.
Lot 433 – 3 leather bound volumes 1,2 & 3 – History of Prince Arthur, by Thomas Malory, published 1816, being a reprint from 1634
The trade for antiquarian Books is very variable depending upon who is in the market and what they are interested in. 3 leather bound volumes of Sir Thomas Mallory’s “History of Prince Arthur” published in 1816 went for £85; and a leather bound book entitled “An Historical List of Horse-Matches Run in England & Ireland in 1752” made £20.
Lot 294 – Pair of Swarovski parrots, ‘Love Birds’
Lot 319 – Swarovski Wonders of the Sea ‘Eternity’
Amongst the Collectables there was a significant entry of Swarovksi crystal, part of 2 private collections. The top price of £250 was paid for 2 small Parrott “Love Birds”. Swarovski “Wonders of The Sea” were also in demand with £180 being paid for ‘Eternity’; £150 for ‘Harmony’, and £170 for ‘Community’. Also under the heading of Collectables, an Essex miniature sewing machine together with a small Hohner accordion made £60.
There was not so much silver and jewellery on offer this month as there has been in the last few months. An 18ct gold and amethyst ring made £130, and an 18ct gold necklace together with a 9ct gold signet ring made £130.
Lot 529 – Large qty of Royal Crown Derby & other blue & gold china
Royal Crown Derby remains one of the more sought-after ceramics and a large quantity of plates, plus some “gaudy” ware, sold for £170.
Our next General Sale is on Saturday 22nd July, for which entries need to have been received by Tuesday 18th. For a free valuation of items for sale contact Chris at the office or email chris@tsauction.co.uk