The latest antiques and fine art sale at Mitchells’ Cockermouth auction rooms made £288,000 overall – despite the coronavirus pandemic.
The very first lot, a late 19th century Chinese cylindrical vase, which sold for £1,000 against an estimate of only £100-£150.
The highest selling lot of the entire sale being a pair of 19th century Chinese celadon vases sold for £6,300 to a buyer in China against an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.
A large 1912 Royal Worcester two handled vase painted with highland cattle by John Stinton valued at £700-£1,000 also did extremely well eventually selling for £3,000.
Other surprise lots were a 19th century Minton Parian figure of a youthful Hercules valued at £150-£250 sold for £2,500 and a late 17th century English sampler sold for £2,400 against a valuation of £100-£150.
One of the biggest shocks in the sale was a collection of eight 18th century scrap albums containing postcards, greetings cards, prints, fashion plates, photographs and other scraps which sailed past its estimate of £50-£80 eventually selling for £900 much to the amazement of salegoers.
The most valuable pieces of furniture were a Victorian walnut marquetry circular centre table sold for £3,600 and a matched set of nine Regency ebonised and gilt dining chairs with a hammer price of £3,000 against an estimate of £300-£500.
A brown leather Chesterfield settee also did well selling for £1,300 as did a Mouseman of Kilburn armchair with an estimate of £300-£500 which made £900.
The highest selling lot amongst the paintings, drawings and prints was a Pablo Picasso hand signed limited edition etching from the Erotica Series The Old Man and His Tonkinese Hat which had been expected to make £800-£1,200 but sold for £2,900.
The sale also included two charcoal drawings Cumbrian Village and Cumbrian Farmstead by local artist Percy Kelly (1918-1993) which both sold for £2,200 against estimates of £1,000-£1,500.
The biggest surprise amongst the fine art was a pair of oil on canvas paintings of the Langdale Pikes by W.J. Fairlie valued at £200-£300 which achieved a hammer price of £1,700.
More unusual lots in the sale included two 19th century carved wooden ships’ figureheads Lady Rachel and Captain Hawthorne, believed to have been made by the Maryport figurehead maker James Brooker, which both sold to a restorer for £1,700 each.
Mitchells next antiques and fine art sale will be from March 24 to 26, with a closing date for entries of Tuesday 16th February.
Anyone requiring a free valuation of items for potential sale should contact the auctioneers Mark Wise or Michael Roberts on 01900 827800.
Entries are also now invited for Mitchells next vintage and antique toy and model sale on Thursday February 11. The deadline for entries is January 8.
Anyone requiring a free valuation of items for sale should contact auctioneer Ewan Duff on 01900 827800.
Entries are also invited for the spring country sporting sale.
Contact auctioneer James Moore on 01900 827800 for a free valuation of items for sale. The deadline for entries is Thursday March 25.
