A three-day auction held by Richard Winterton Auctioneers in Lichfield last week, (20th-22nd March) proved just how buoyant the market is in certain niche areas.
Day one commenced with the silver, gold, jewellery, coins and collectors’ items all of which were available to view and bid live online. As such bidders were logged as far afield as New York, Beijing and Melbourne.
Precious metals such as gold and silver are still fetching record prices, illustrated here with Lot 63, an 18ct gold chain discovered in Sutton Coldfield exceeding the £950 estimate to bring £1,300. The sale included a wide variety of antique to modern silver wares totalling over £8,000. Antique to modern affordable jewellery is also offered in these monthly sales and consistently exceed pre-sale expectations.
Coins and medals are a speciality in these sales with Lot 225, a Royal Mint Masterpiece Millennium collection of silver proof coins bringing £440 from an Internet bidder. The coins and medals on day one totalled over £15,000.
Day two served up a wide range of quality collectable ceramics, glass and sundries. Factories such as Beswick, Doulton, Wedgwood, Derby etc were represented, all of which proved popular.
Day three was reserved for the furniture and furnishings. ‘Industrial Chic’ and current interior design trends for ‘Retro’ furniture ensured a packed saleroom with trade and private buyers looking for something individual. The out of season snow did not deter would-be buyers who crammed into the warm saleroom to participate in the proceedings. Highlights included Lot 999 a carved marble architectural wall tablet selling to a telephone bidder for £1,200 and Lot 1508, a nineteenth century astragal glazed bookcase for £1,100 to a room bidder.
The next three-day Antique, Twentieth Century & Collectors’ Sale at the Lichfield City Centre Salerooms is 24th to 26th April. Final entries are currently being invited. Please phone Richard Winterton Auctioneers on 01543 251081 for further details. richardwinterton.co.uk