In the world of auctions, a ‘white glove’ sale is a very rare and special event indeed. The term, which derives from the white gloves once worn by porters to handle valuable items, is used to indicate that every lot in the auction sold. Such was the case at Trevanion Auctioneers’ September specialist silver auction, which saw all two hundred and forty nine lots find new homes, raising a total of almost £50,000 plus fees. The auction attracted huge interest both in the room and online, and included one hundred and sixty eight lots from a local private vendor, which between them sold for over £30,000 plus fees. Silver and jewellery specialist Amelia Tomkinson, who catalogued the sale, was delighted with its success, ‘To have every single lot sell is practically unheard of in the auction world, but I think it reflects the quality of the lots we had an offer,’ notes Amelia. ‘Often silver is bought at auction to be melted down, but the pieces we sold were all both very commercial and beautifully decorative, and therefore much too good to end up in the melting pot!’.
The fine jewellery sale which followed the silver auction was also highly successful. The top seller was a striking 20th century French 18ct yellow gold necklace with a graduate fringe design, which sold for £5200 plus fees. This was closely followed by a contemporary diamond line bracelet that showcased fifty-four brilliant cut diamonds in a white metal claw setting, which was snapped up for £4500 plus fees, and a late 19th century diamond three stone ring, which made £4000 plus fees.
Also offered on day one of the September auction was a new-to-market private collection of works by much loved British artist Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe R.A. (1901-1979). The collection belonged to Tom and Molly Forshaw, an Anglesey farming couple who were friends and neighbours with Tunnicliffe for more than twenty-five years. Many of the paintings on offer depicted Tom’s fancy pigeons, a subject which fascinated Tunnicliffe, and the top selling work was an oil on board showing eight fancy pigeons with rhododendrons beyond, which sold for £5000 plus fees. Also selling well was ‘Friesian Cows – Wern Farm’, which showed Tom Forshaw herding his cattle on his Anglesey farm, which made £3400 plus fees. ‘It’s so unusual for Tunnicliffe’s work to come fresh to the market, and this collection featured some beautiful pictures,’ notes art valuer Simon Grover. ‘Thomas Forshaw’s close personal connection with Tunnicliffe added an extra dimension to the collection, and led to huge interest from collectors’.
Day two of the auction saw the sale of a very unusual and highly sought-after carpet, which attracted international attention from numerous bidders. The hand-knotted wool carpet featured an all-over foliate and ogee medallion design in red and blue colours, and although large, had several condition issues. Despite this, after a fierce bidding battle in the room and online, it sold for an impressive £10,500 plus fees. Associate director Ashley Jones was not surprised the carpet did so well. ‘Carpets such as these from the Oushak region of Western Antatolia (Turkey) became popular during the 15th century, and remained sought after throughout the 17th and 18th centuries,’ says Ashley. ‘Many were exported to European country homes, where they were highly prized until fashions changed, and they were put into storage in trunks and attics. They’re now being re-discovered, and are causing a stir in the market’.
Centre stage in the furniture auction was a single owner collection of pieces from the workshops of renowned maker Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson and his protégé Peter ‘Rabbitman’ Heap. Buyers were particularly keen on a ‘Mouseman’ mirror, side table and nest of tables, which made £1800, £1700 and £1600 plus fees respectively. ‘These were all smaller pieces, but they’re a perfect fit for a contemporary home’, notes furniture valuer Ian Woodward. ‘And although ‘Rabbitman’ isn’t as well known as ‘Mouseman’, his pieces are similarly really well made, so it was nice to see these attract some strong prices too.’
A late Victorian inlaid mahogany three piece bedroom suite also attracted attention. ‘The wardrobe bears a plaque stating that the suite was made for and used by Queen Victoria when she stayed at Newsham House, a historic Liverpool residence used as the accommodation for Judges attending the Crown Court in Liverpool’, says Ian. ‘The suite was made by the renowned cabinet maker Samuel Waring, who later made his fortune as half of Waring & Gillow’. The suite sold online to an interior designer for £3000 plus fees.
The success of the furniture section of the auction was particularly poignant for managing partner Christina Trevanion. ‘This was Ian’s last auction with us before he hangs up his gavel and goes off to enjoy a well earned retirement,’ she notes, ‘so it was fantastic to see the furniture sell so well. Added to our white glove silver triumph, this makes our September auction one of our best yet!’
We will hold our next auction on Wednesday 15th October. The closing date for entries is 25th September. To book a valuation appointment call 01948 800202.
