Lots of treasures to fill your Christmas stockings
DECEMBER auctions are always some of the most enjoyable events in the saleroom year, packed with interesting and unusual gift possibilities for the forthcoming festive season.
This year’s Christmas auction at the Old Wool Mart takes place on the afternoon of Tuesday (December 6) and extends to more than 200 lots of everything from jewellery, gold and silver to watches, collectables and treasures that anyone would be delighted g to find in their stocking on Christmas hristmas morning.
The stocking fillers for or him include vintage port – dating back over half a century y in the case of one bottle - plus a selection of fine e malt whiskies that would d likely have steam com- ing out of Nicola Sturgeon’s ears. (Distilled in England. More info later.) .)
Of course the jewellery ellery section of the auction attracts particular attention. The entry this time provides a wide offering of rings, brooches, earrings, necklaces and the like and at valuations that will hopefully suit most pockets even in the current financially challenging climate. There are pieces that are expected to make as little as ten or twenty pounds as well as those that will make it into the high hundreds. Meanwhile, the sale will see some impressive pocket watches going under the hammer including two Rolexes. They are both 9 carat gold and date from the early 20th century, a time when the wristwatch was considered a silly fad for posh women. The pocket watch on the other hand was viewed as being more manly as well as more practical and more accurate. (Which it was.) Attitudes changed quickly in the
First World War trenches.
Rolex did actually continue making pocket watches, albeit in ever smaller numbers, into the 1970s. There are many collectors and the good news for them is that with the exception of a few very rare late models pocket watches make just a fraction of the thousands that are routinely paid for luxury Rolex wristwatches. The two we’re putting under the hammer are both expected to make £400 or £500 – a modest cost for bragging rights at the office New Year get-together no?
An 18 carat gold pocket watch of similar vintage g made by the luxury jewellers Tiffany Tiffan & Co is expected to make even mo more. (£500-£800.)
And speaking s of luxury jewellers, the collectables co in the auction include inclu a remarkable vanity case of the type that aristocrats and other really, really rich gentlemen took on their travels in a bygone age. Produced by Mappin and Webb, the fine leather le case has everything he might mig need from the silver topped toppe bottles for his colognes and toiletries, il through extensive grooming instrumentation, to hunting boot pulls. There’s even a silver topped container for the toothbrush. Finally, details of the port and whisky lots. The port includes a 1967 Fonseca Guimaraens, a noted vintage that the experts describe as being ‘deep and attractive with a sweet nose’. Bottles retail at between £150 and £250. Meanwhile the six bottles of single malt whisky on offer were distilled at various dates between 2007 and 2013, not in Scotland but in Norfolk.
The fully illustrated auction catalogue is available at www.johntaylors. com). The viewing sessions are on Sunday, December 4, 1pm-3pm and Tuesday (December 5) 10am-noon. The auction starts at 1pm. The sale is to be webcast live at www.the-saleroom. com.