Charles Ross - Auction Review

September Fine Arts Sale

The mixed reaction we received when dealers and public alike realised Flog It were filming during viewing and on the day of our September Fine Arts Sale came as no surprise. There were those who appeared in all their finery and sat in the front row, desperate to be picked out by the camera, and others who hid at the back of the room bemoaning the presence of Paul Martin et al.

As the fare on offer was so tasty no amount of lights, cameras or day-time celebrities could prevent serious buyers from their quarry. With some seven hundred and fifty lots catalogued, it was little wonder the room was full, and the assembled company witnessed some very pleasing (for the vendors and the house) hammer prices.

A German tin plate car, believed to date from 1905 made £1300, an early nineteenth bronze saluting cannon was bought on the telephone by a South Coast dealer for £1450, and all the phone lines were busy when the oil by Irish artist Maurice Wilks, came under the hammer and was eventually sold to a fellow countryman, who paid £4200.

Among the surprises, was the very keen interest shown in a small selection of Chinese furniture. Dating only from the mid twentieth century, five pieces, including a screen, alter table, desk, opium table and vitrine totalled £4210.

In general, the lots which achieved the highest prices, were the more unusual and ‘top end’ of the fine art strata. This, you may think is obvious, but it does prove that in the dark times of world financial turmoil, the golden egg continues to shine.

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  Maurice Wilks, "Silver Sunlight Cushenden Bay", oil on canvas, sold for £4200.

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  An Edwardian tin plate clockwork chauffeur driven motor car, sold for £1300.

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  A Chinese rosewood four fold screen, sold for £2600, and a Chinese rosewood coffee table, sold for £260 and a pair of Chinese Famille verte pottery garden seats, sold for £1350.

For details of prices realised can be found in the on-line catalogue.