Western Morning News (Saturday)
Treasure trove of fine pieces for collectors
WHITTONS of Honiton’s next auction will be a Fine Silver and Jewellery sale on Wednesday, September 1 commencing at 10.30am. On offer will be over 500 lots of interesting and collectable items of antique and modern silverwares.
Among the lots will be a large cased silver cutlery service in William and Mary laceback pattern comprising more than 100 pieces, made in Sheffield by Mappin & Webb with a pre-sale estimate of £4500 - £5000.
There is also an extensive collection of silver novelties such as Georgian vinaigrettes, snuff boxes, unusual and collectable Stuart Devlin unique pieces, in particular a silver gilt hippopotamus and a cased egg with a mouse eating cheese hiding inside.
There is a large stylish silver picture frame decorated with peacocks, (est. £200 - £300), a good quality hexagonal George I coffee pot of Britannia Standard dated 1724, (est. £4500 - £5000), a large George III loving cup attractively decorated with sheep made in London in 1807 by William Bennett, (est. £250 - £300), a pair of cast silver candlesticks with shell decoration, made in London in 1750, (est. £1500 - £2000), a collection of Paul Storr Kings’ pattern cutlery with a pre-sale estimate of £600 - £800, and a heavy George III tankard attractively decorated with a tavern scene on spreading base, made in London in 1760, (est. £1000 £1500).
The pièce de résistance for this auction has to be an extremely rare and important Fabergé (Фаберже) mirror plateau of substantial proportions decorated with scrolls on oak base, and scroll sweeping support, measuring approximately 73cms long.
It was acquired by the current owners many years ago as an investment piece from Sothebys, and the trustees of the estate have given permission for this to be sold with a presale estimate of £6500 - £7000.
Silver and jewellery expert Edward Whitton believes this exceptional centrepiece will realise in excess of this figure due to the rarity and exclusivity of such a unique item.
The sale concludes with approximately 100 lots of jewellery and watches to include an Omega wristwatch, a Tudor Rolex wristwatch and numerous diamond mounted rings, etc.
Viewing for this auction will be by appointment on Tuesday, August 31 from 9.30am – 4.30pm. Bidding will be available in person by appointment and via the-saleroom.com or through Whittons Live.
For more information contact Whittons Auctions Ltd, The Fine Art Auction Rooms, Dowell Street, Honiton, EX14 1LX, visit online at www.whittonsauctions.co.uk or call 01404 517000, 01393 345454 or 01726 983734.