The winner takes it all
PROFESSIONAL ROULETTE WHEEL AND GAMING TABLE AMONG THE ITEMS TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER IN MAY AUCTION
AUCTIONS always provide surprise entries but few perhaps quite as unexpected or as impressive as the professional roulette wheel and gaming table that is to go under the hammer in the May auction at the Old Wool Mart in ten days time.
Sent for sale by a Lincolnshire private members club that was just getting established when the coronavirus pandemic hit, it was made by John Huxley of London, the world’s leading manufacturer of gaming machinery and equipment.
Estimating what this ‘Rolls Royce’ piece of casino kit will make at auction is a bit of a gamble. Mr Huxley’s catalogue doesn’t even deign to mention prices (worrying!) but on the other hand how many people are looking for a slightly used handcrafted roulette wheel and gaming table at the moment? We think £1,000-£1,500 but don’t bet the farm.
Speaking of professional quality games machines, the auction also includes an arcade table football game. The maker is Jaques, a famous name in the games world.
Away from all that, the saleroom’s run of luxury and collectable watches continues. The most valuable lot in the entire auction is expected to be a Breitling Avenger 2 chronograph that has a pre-sale estimate of around two and a half thousand pounds. Not quite the match of the ultrarare WW2 Grana military timepiece that achieved £12,000 in the last auction but a pretty impressive wristwatch nevertheless. It comes complete with all the paperwork and the electronic International Warranty Card, important evidence that it is genuine.
Other watches on offer include a Tudor gentleman’s wristwatch that is expected to make £500-£600 and a Cartier ladies watch estimated at £350-£500, as well as various antique gold and silver pocket watches.
Having remarked quite recently on how few pictures of fishing industry interest have been coming to auction, this sale has several including an oil painting of Grimsby Docks in 1964 by Louis Rodgerson, one time art master at the King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth. The section also includes his atmospheric view of Eastgate in Louth dating from around the same time.
Meanwhile the trawling pictures also include a limited edition print (68/850) of Leslie R Treacher’s painting of the Ross Tiger moored alongside the Fishing Heritage Centre, signed in pencil by former local MPs Austin Mitchell and Michael Brown.
And we have an oil painting depicting the trawler Julia Brierley in lively weather. Built for the admiralty during the war, the ship was bought by Consolidated Fisheries of Grimsby in 1946 but she spent the vast majority of her career sailing out of Fleetwood before returning briefly to Grimsby ahead of scrapping in Belgium in 1961. Artist George Odlin’s painting depicts her with her Fleetwood number.
Other entries of note include two Japanese Meiji period ivory okimono (decorative carvings) that are expected to achieve £200 apiece in what will be an historic moment for the saleroom. The he ban on the sale of ivory comes into to effect next month so this will be the last ast time we are able to auction such items. ms.
Meanwhile a collection of 25 rare re smoking pipes (estimates £50-£100 a pipe) is expected to attract a lot of interest, as is a large section of garden n ornamentation, 30 lots ranging across ss statues, fountains, benches, sundials, s, bird baths, planters and the like.
The auction catalogue is available on the firm’s website (www.johntaylors.com). The viewing sessions are on Sunday and Monday, May 22 and d 23 (1pm-3pm).
The auction starts at 10am on Tues- day, May 24. It is to be webcast live on n the internet at www.the-saleroom. . com.