Wessex Auction Rooms - March 2024
We always take pride in the fact that we consider each and every one of our auctions a very special occasion here at Wessex Auction Rooms, with all of our auctioneers thriving on the buzz of a busy room.However, we must admit that the feeling is heightened when we are joined by the bright lights of the BBC Bargain Hunt cameras.Our recent Antiques, Collectables & Furniture auction of March 2nd was one of these such occasions as eight teams proudly dressed in red or blue watched as I took to the rostrum and put the items they had bought under the hammer - with the goal of making them some profits and winning those famous golden gavels.Unfortunately I can’t tell you the results, so you’ll have to tune in and find out!
However, I am glad to report that the drama of the 700-lot strong sale wasn’t just created by the famous red & blue fleeces and when lot 1, a beautiful 18th Century Chinese flambé purple glazed double gourd vase with a guide price of £100-200 eventually sold for £576 including buyer’s premium, we knew we were in for a fantastic day.The item attracted bids from the room, online, the UK, China, commission bidders from Wiltshire and even a telephone bidder.We were a carrier pigeon short of completing all forms of potential bidding communication!
The star of the show on this day, even outshining the glow of the Bargain Hunt experts, presenter and teams, was lot 145, a rare carved African hardwood figure of a stylised female holding a bottle & vessel, the figure itself appeared to have been carved while carrying a form of illness, perhaps leprosy, and to call its value before the sale was always going to be tricky.Believed to be from the border between Congo and Gabon, it was one of those items that really must always go to auction in order to find its value and when the hammer finally came down at a price of £8,400 including buyer’s premium, we are confident that this was more than achieved.
Now if you regularly read my auction reports you will know that I love a large collection of anything (who wouldn’t) and we have been sitting on one such collection for over 6 months, which after probate being granted finally made it for sale on 2nd March.It was a magnificent and comprehensive collection of postcards divided into over 35 lots and once you started turning the pages you really could not put the albums down.Postcards are an important historical artifact that highlight social histories from all subjects and cultures and on a personal note, I have a real soft spot for them as a collectable.The whole collection totalled a whopping £17,498 including buyers’ premium with the most popular of the lots being a group of early 20th Century Australian postcards contained within two albums that featured a range of subjects such as the railway, transport, bridges & hotels.The lot contained a stunning mix of both monochrome & colour examples, some with inscriptions & franked stamps which can always add value to the lot.This lot sold for a premium inclusive £2640.
This auction was absolutely jammed packed with standing room only and it felt like the whole of Wiltshire & the west country had joined us, but if you were the one person that couldn’t make this auction with the BBC fear not as the Bargain Hunt cameras are back with us at Wessex Auction Rooms twice over the next few months – first on 20th April and again for a very special occasion on Thursday 11th July as we will be hosting the BBC Bargain Hunt Children in Need auction.As always you are cordially invited, and we look forward to seeing you there.
As I am typing this, we are one hour away from the start of three days of auctions which include two specialist auctions featuring over 1000 lots of Coins, Jewellery, Watches & Silver items.There are lovely pieces amongst the lots especially in the watch section including Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Blancpain and more.I look forward to reporting back next time, and hope to see some of you in April at our next Bargain Hunt auction.
Wessex Auction Rooms are always consigning for forthcoming auctions and welcome entries Mon-Fri 9-5 at our auction rooms just off J17 of the M4 (Chippenham) with no appointment necessary, or on an appointment basis at our central Bath office, or at your home.Contact the team on 01249 720888 or email enquiries@wessexauctionrooms.co.uk