So in this last post from the auction viewing at Lawrences in Blethingley I have collected a number of beautiful yet curious things that were up for sale in the auction. I have also managed to find out the hammer price for quite a few of these pieces:
Georgian Birmingham silver two piece opium pipe – Hammer Price
£150
The most odd piece at the auction would be this silver opium pipe, which I found out sold for £150. Opium was used widely as a medicine back in the days and we can read the following on Wikipedia:
“Opium is mentioned in the most important medical texts of the ancient world, including the Ebers Papyrus and the writings of Dioscorides, Galen and Avicenna. Widespread medical use of unprocessed opium continued through the American Civial War before giving way to morphine and its successors, which could be injected at a precisely controlled dosage.” – Wikipedia
Victorian silver inkstand with two cut glass bottles and taper stick on low shapred supports date 1854 makers mark E.B. and J.B. – hammer price £390
Oh I loved this Victorian silver inkstand with glass bottles – how very Alice in Wonderland! Drink me?
Enamel decorated clips and a 19th Century miniature watercolour portrait
Enamel decorated clips
Above you can see a set of twelve unusual enamel decorated clips in the form of various flowers. The case was marked Zarger and sold for £45. In the top photo on the right you have a 19th Century miniature watercolour on ivory portrait of a seated lady in purple dress. Gilt framed unsigned inscribed verso Thomas Hargreaves, and the hammer price was £720!
Silver wine etiquette at Lawrences Auctioneers
Heavy brass figures of horses
A collection of composition dolls that sold for £5
This collection of Lalique perfumes sold for £110
Four Lalique perfumes
This copper water urn, copper teapot brass and wrought iron trivit and two post horns sold for £30
Set of five reproduction oak dining chairs with padded backs and overstuffed seats on baluster turned front supports with stretchers – sold for £60
So check this out: the five oak dining chairs above sold for a mere £60 – how incredibly reasonable! I say head to your nearest auction and start discovering awesome stuff!!
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau style figure of a seated lady with silver gilt and painted decoration
Judge by my surprise when I found out that this lovely lady wasn’t sold at the auction. I think the design is so beautiful and a great example of Art Nouveau, which often portrayed women as well as nature scenes and images.
You can find Lawrences Auctioneers in the beautiful English country village of Bletchingley
Were you surprised by any of the hammer prices for these pieces? Anything you liked the look of and would have put a bid on? I would love to read your thoughts below in the comments section!
Decades of Elegance 