Star Sales

A rocking horse, silver honey pot and Windsor chair are among the showstoppers chosen by Caroline Wheater from the most recent UK auctions

1. Sitting Pretty Estimate £100-£150 Sold £900

T his arched-back Windsor chair caused a stir when it came up for sale at Lawrences last autumn. Consigned from a Somerset property clearance, it was catalogued by auctioneer Neil Grenyer. ‘ I put it into the Fine Art sale initially because of its unusual form and the way the back arch is !"ed through the armrest to join the upright. The remains of the green paint were also interesting,’ he says.

Windsor chairs were originally used outdoors and painted green to protect the wood, hence the visible #ecks. Neil suspects that the chair, which probably dates from the late 18th century, could have been made in the West Country or Herefordshire, or even New England – as the thin hoop on the arch of the chair is reminiscent of traditional American style.

‘ Its high value at auction was a combination of a notable form, original condition, age and overall aesthetic appeal,’ explains Neil. ‘It was bought by a well-known member of the decorative antiques trade,’ he adds. Lawrences Auctioneers 01460 73041; lawrences.co.uk

2 China Cabinet

Estimate £300-£500

Sold £1,400

This striking piece sold at John Nicholson’s recently, with bidders slugging it out over the cabinet-on-stand’s chinoiserie decoration and carved base. At just over !ve feet tall, the 18th- century antique is imposing, and will make a great talking point for a hallway or large living room, as well as providing storage. Chinoiserie-style furniture was all the rage 250 years ago, and was both imported from the Far East and copied by British cabinetmakers.

01428 653727; johnnicholsons.com

3 Galloping Away

Estimate £300-£500

Sold £875

Dating from the early 20th century, this small, dapple-grey rocking horse, consigned from Grade A-listed mansion house Arthur Lodge in Edinburgh, stole a few hearts at Lyon & Turnbull recently. The handsome Edwardian steed, measuring 80cm long, has glass eyes, a real horsehair mane and tail, and is !"ed with a leather saddle, bridle and reins. It still rocks too, held sturdily in place by its substantial wooden trestle base.

0131 557 8844; lyonandturnbull.com

4 Silver Lining

Estimate £7,000-£10,000

Sold £8,750

Though silver has decreased in value in recent years, pieces by the best makers still fetch a premium. This silver honey pot proved the point, stamped with the mark of Paul Storr, London, 1799, who was one of the greatest silversmiths of his age. The 18th- century charmer sold at one of Christie’s Collector sales last autumn, snapped up by a silver connoisseur. The realistic design is of a ‘skep’, or upturned straw basket used to keep bees.

020 7839 9060; christies.com

5 Clean Lines

Estimate £100-£150

Sold £60

Augustus Pugin was a proli "c designer in the 19th century, responsible for the interiors of the Houses of Parliament, among many other projects. A polymath, he created this simple blue and white design for the Minton pottery factory. The New Stone Gothic planner (38cm wide) would probably have been part of a larger dinner service. It was bought by a canny bidder at Woolley & Wallis’s British Art Pottery sale last December.

01722 424500; woolleyandwallis.co.uk

6 Biggest Fan

Estimate £300-£500

Sold £900

Antique fan bu !s made a beeline for Tennants in Yorkshire last December, when the auction house sold two private collections. The lots dated from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, among them a yellow ostrich feather fan belonging to the Duchess of Windsor. Also in the sale was this 1880 French double vellum leaf fan, with mother of pearl sticks and painted with The Triumph

of Venus, probably by the history painter Antonin Pierre Topart.

01969 623780; tennants.co.uk

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