March 2012 Results
China 1900 Medal with Taku Forts Clasp sells for £770
Hummingbird Heads make £1,000
Five stuffed hummingbird heads mounted on gold with a tortoiseshell comb exemplify the bizarre taste that Victorians were capable of exercising! Not the sort of thing we would strive for today.
The comb came with a matching circular brooch set with a single head. The heads were set with gold beaks and ruby cabochon eyes. Stamped patent number '1779' and maker's initials 'b.e.' could provide useful grounds for future research for their new owner
2 CARAT DIAMOND SOLITAIRE £6,600
This 1930's diamond solitaire ring was set with an old cut diamond of good colour and clarity. Private bidders in the room were keen to buy against a tempting estimate of £3,000-4,000. A London telephone bidder, however, had other ideas, thwarting their plans when he finally took the ring at £6,600!
Minton majolica jardiniere - £1,250
This large Minton jardiniere measured 21" across its boldly moulded handles. Coming from a deceased estate, it bore the Minton date code stamp for the year 1862 and was modelled in high relief with foxgloves, convolvulus and fern leaves. A conservative estimate of £300-450 helped to attract many admirers.
On the day a telephone bidder from Kent triumphed at a treble estimate £1,250
China 1900 Medal with Taku Forts Clasp
The China medal came with a Long Service & Good Conduct Medal awarded to Stoker William Bickham of Kingsteignton in Devon. His service record was also included with a glazed locket photo of the seaman in uniform. The record told us of at least a dozen different ships he served on from the late 1890's until the conclusion of WWI.
Predictably, the battle to purchase was between two Devon collectors choosing to bid by telephone. A north Devon buyer prevailed paying £770 against a £400-600 estimate
AN ADMIRAL's MEDALS AT CHUDLEIGH IN MAY
The May 5th Auction at Chudleigh will feature Admiral Dicken's Egypt medal and also his son's WWI naval service medals. The medals are coming straight from the family so have never been on the market before. Interest of at least £400-600 is anticipated