Western Morning News (Saturday)
Gold coins sure to make sale glitter
ASALE of antiques and art, silver, jewellery, watches and gold coins is being held by Eldreds next Tuesday, July 27, at 10am.
Of topical interest in Eldreds summer Antiques & Art auction is a rare cricket tankard, produced in stoneware by Doulton Lambeth, with the silver rim hallmarked for Sheffield 1899. The tankard, in remarkable condition, is decorated with three figures in relief, a batsman, bowler and wicket keeper and asks £400£600 at the sale.
Local interest art includes a signed oil on artboard painting by Victorian musician and artist Sarah Louisa Kilpack, depicting the view from Hoe Road looking toward the Citadel and Mount Batten at £200-£300. Two signed oil on board paintings by Colin Richardson, one of Jew’s House, Polperro, and the other of St Ives Harbour are a naïve but charming and colourful addition to the sale and an interesting set of four limited edition signed etchings by painter and printmaker Roy Walker will generate interest. Roy spent much of his life in Cornwall, closely-associated with the St Ives artistic community and these etchings, all of the St Austell china clay landscape, are titled Moon, Sun, Rain and Storm and are offered in two pairs at £50-”100.
One of the prettiest pieces of jewellery in the sale is a Tanzanite and diamond halo cluster ring. Claw-set, an oval faceted Tanzanite of approximately 3.5cts within a delicate border of diamond points and diamond-set shoulders, this ring is a show stopper, and is estimated at £200-£300.
Tanzanite is a relatively recently-discovered gemstone, having first been identified in the 1960’s as blue zoisite. Capitalizing on the rarity and the fact it is only found in Tanzania, it was renamed Tanzanite by Tiffanys who ran an advertising campaign that the gem could be found in two locations: Tanzania and Tiffanys. Occurring naturally as a brown stone, the gem is heat treated, turning it into a lively blue/violet.
Possibly the most spectacular item is an Essex crystal brooch portraying a peregrine falcon. Essex crystals, named for William Essex, are made from rock crystal, reverse-carved from the back, producing the image as a void and then painstakingly painted, creating a three-dimensional “trompe l’oeil” effect. This example is estimated at £300-£400.
Of royal interest is a silver teapot and similar sugar basin and jug, a wedding gift from Queen Mary to Miss Phoebe Morshead. The threepiece set is engraved “From Mary R to Phoebe Morshead, Nov 21st 1952”.
Gold coins remain a strong area for investors and collectors and amongst several lots in this sale is a Royal Mint cased 1984 United Kingdom gold proof collection, comprising 22ct five-pound coin, sovereign and half-sovereign, in capsules, with certificate of authenticity.
The gold coin set is estimated at £1,000-1,500.
Viewing is on Monday 26th July, 9am-5pm, by appointment only. Catalogue and live internet bidding at www.eldreds.net