Almost 1,000 international bidders flocked to buy lots at a recent Cumbrian auction.
Mitchells Antiques and Fine Art Sale, held in its Cockermouth saleroom and online, saw people register from across the world to bid on lots – and some items greatly exceeded their estimates.
The highest selling lot in the sale was a charcoal drawing by the renowned local artist Percy Kelly, signed and dated 1959 and depicting The road from West Newton to Allonby. Measuring 55 x 75cm, framed and mounted, the picture sold for £6,200.
Another artwork by Kelly, a preparatory sketch for an etching in charcoal originally bought at Mitchells in 2014 for £620 made £1,900.
One of the biggest surprises in the sale however was a set of eight early 20th century interlocking graduated Chinese tea bowls which sold for £2,700 against an estimate of £100-£150.
Another big surprise was a quantity of world currency, including bank notes from Syria, China, Egypt, Turley, The Philippines, Guatemala and Greece, which made £2,200 against an estimate of £50-£70.
The most valuable of the drawings by Alfred Wainwright was a signed original pen and ink illustration of Brim Fell sold for £2,600 and another Lake District view The summit of Coniston Old Man made £2,200.
A signed Wainwright guidebook A Pictorial Guide To The Lakeland Fells Book 1, The Eastern Fells greatly exceeded its estimate selling for £500.
From the same private collection was a range of vintage mountaineering books including a 1953 first edition of The Ascent of Everest by author and expedition leader John Hunt which was signed by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay which made £900.
Perfect timing for Christmas and the New Year, the sale also featured a private collection of some 50 bottles of rare single malt Scotch Whisky of which the highest selling was a 1979 St Magdalene Rare Malts Selection Single Malt Scotch Whisky aged 19 years which made £820.
The most valuable lots among the watches and jewellery were a 1960s Tudor Prince Oysterdate Ranger wristwatch sold for £2,800, a Victorian 18ct gold five stone diamond ring which made £1,600, and a Victorian gold coloured metal diamond and opal set necklace which sold for £1,500.
Highlights among the furniture were an Edwardian inlaid mahogany display cabinet which made £1,200, a set of six 19th century beech an elm kitchen chairs which sailed past the estimate selling for £780 and a mid-century rosewood record cabinet which made £600.
