Spring was in the air at Trevanion Auctioneers’ March auction, and the promise of warmer weather was perfectly captured by one of the star lots – a rare near pair of Bristol Delft ‘Farmyard’ plates, circa 1730, each polychrome decorated with a cockerel amongst manganese purple trees. ‘Bristol was a key centre of production for British tin glazed earthenware – known as Delftware – in the 18th century’ said associate director Ashley Jones. ‘Cheaper than imported Chinese porcelain, but still too expensive to be easily affordable, Delftware was particularly prized by the newly emerging merchant and professional classes, who appreciated its bright colours and charming designs.’ The plates proved to be highly sought after by discerning collectors, eventually selling for £2800 plus fees.

The auction also gave buyers an opportunity to bid on a charming representation of a much older kind of selling, in the form of a rare Victorian pedlar peg doll. ‘Selling door to door is frowned upon these days, but in the 19th century it was common, with street pedlars hawking haberdashery and other household wares through towns and villages’ said valuer Simon Grover. ‘These colourful characters were the basis for the pedlar peg doll, usually a jointed wooden doll brightly dressed in country clothing and carrying a basket of intricate miniature wares like cottons, knitting needles and playing cards. Although termed dolls, they were never intended to be children’s playthings, and were instead proudly displayed under glass domes in Victorian parlours.’ Still dressed in her original clothing and with even the loose items in her basket still present, the pedlar peg doll prompted a bidding battle between online and phone bidders, finally selling for £2800 plus fees.

Furniture also proved to be strong seller, with oak pieces in particular achieving some good prices, but the star of the show was a Knole sofa or settee. The original Knole settee was made for Knole House in Kent, ancestral home of the Sackville-West family. ‘With its deep seat, high back and drop-side arms, the Knole settee was intended to be imposing as well as comfortable, and spawned numerous copycat designs which used the Knole name,’ commented furniture valuer Ian Woodward. Although in need of attention, buyers were keen to give the sofa a new home, and it eventually sold for £2200 plus fees.

One vendor had a wonderful surprise in the March auction, when jewellery valuer Amelia Tomkinson discovered a beautiful early 20th century untested emerald and diamond ring in a bag full of costume jewellery. ‘The ring was a lovely Edwardian example with beautifully matched graduated emeralds set among old cut diamonds’ said Amelia. ‘The lady who consigned it thought it was a costume piece, but as soon as I saw it I knew it was something special’. After numerous bids the ring eventually sold for £1200 plus fees.

‘I love our spring auctions’ commented Managing Partner Christina Trevanion after the sale. ‘There’s a wonderful sense of discovery in the air as my team seek out the novel, the rare and the beautiful, often surprising and delighting our vendors as they do so. We’re also seeing more and more bidders coming to our auction for the first time, and it’s great to hear their lovely feedback about how much they’ve enjoyed the experience.’

Trevanion Auctioneers’ next auction will be held on April 24th. The deadline for entries is 4th April. To book a valuation appointment, please call 01948 800 202.