Addison's of Barnard Castle have finished the year on a high note with a large number of items reaching top prices in the Winter Fine Arts and Antiques Catalogue Sale held earlier this month.
The star of the December 11 auction was a Chinese hexagonal, hardwood plant stand, dating from circa 1900, which reached £4,000 - far exceeding its price estimate of £200-300. Measuring 79cm by 34.5cm, the piece was finely carved with fretwork and had legs joined by a stretcher base.
David Elstob, Auctioneer and Valuer at Addisons, was delighted with the price achieved by the stand, which he puts down to the buoyancy of the Chinese market at the moment.
 The Chinese hexagonal, hardwood plant stand, dating from circa 1900 |
"Interest in the piece was intense and the final price was battled out between two Chinese buyers on the phone and live bidders on the internet. It was eventually sold to one of the telephone bidders," he said.
Another notable result was a Victorian silver salver by Edward and John Barnard of London (1856). With a diameter of 55.5cm, the circular piece had a scalloped rim cast, displaying c-scrolls, fruiting vines and floral sprays, punctuated by masks of Bacchus and Flora. Valued between £1,500-1,800, the piece sold for £2,700.
Jewellery also achieved high prices at the sale. A three stone diamond ring in a pierced leaf mount went under the hammer for £2,500, beating its price estimate of £1,500-2,000; and a pair of cultured pearl and diamond earrings, with a guide of £1,600-1,800 sold for £1,580.
 A three stone diamond ring in a pierced leaf mount |
A diamond riviere necklace, composed of a row of 123 brilliant cut diamonds, reached £2,400, falling just outside of its guide price of £2,500-3,500.
"We were very pleased with the results of the sale," said David Elstob. "The interest in the individual pieces and the high prices achieved is a good indicator that there is confidence in the antiques market and bears well for our auctions in 2011."
The next Addison's sale will be the Antiques and Interiors Sale on Thursday January 6 at 10.00am.
- Click here to view our stock items for sale
- Learn how you can get pleasure and profit by investing in antique glassware
- Read all the latest Watches & Jewellery and Unique items news
Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today
