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Auction review – Truro Auction Centre
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Considerable interest was shown in a group of six Cornish granite pilchard pressing stones at the Truro Auction Centre, as although these were a once common sight in the region, most are only found in museums now. They varied in height from 12in (30.5cm) to 26in (66cm) and retained evidence of iron mounting brackets at the sides, putting pressure on the fish contents of each barrel.
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Auctioneer Martyn Rowe was told they were either 17th and 18th century examples, with later Celtic carving and this type of granite boulder in large form can only come from two places in West Cornwall, namely Cape Cornwall or the Cot Valley. In a well-attended sale these stones were received with considerable enthusiasm by Cornish bidders and an estimate of £500-£700 was quickly passed before selling at £950.
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Ephemera relating to the famous remains popular and an unusual, original two-page letter by Florence Nightingale sent to Dr John Murdoch in India, offering to pay for a parcel of books forwarded to the American Mission at Madanapalli. In the event a commission bid of £560 took the room by surprise to acquire the letter, dated 29th October 1896 and mounted in a rectangular display, together with a 19th century black and white engraving of Miss Nightingale.
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Such was the quality of a Victorian stained glass panel of St Philip, circa 1890, it quickly achieved £400 in this competitive room, and an unsigned 19th century silhouette watercolour of Alexander Rowland made £130, also rose over expectations. Mementoes created from pieces of salvage can prove difficult, though there was no disputing interest in a copper oval plaque, circa 1897, made from Nelson’s flagship “The Foudroyant” sold for £105 against an estimate of £40-£70.
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A guide of £60-£100 proved woefully inadequate for a 19th century elm child’s chair of rather small proportions, with spindle back and shaped seat on turned tapered legs. Once again fierce rivalry ensued until it sold for £360 and a London buyer was determined enough to dominate the bidding until acquiring a 17th century hand coloured map of Cornwall after John Speed, circa 1680.
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This had a cautious estimate because it was damaged in the centre, though had been repaired, and five watercolours by the Irish artist, J W Carey, encouraged lively interest from Ireland and beyond, despite not in the best condition. Offered in two lots with scenes of Donegal and the surrounding areas, various commission bids eventually saw three go to the Scottish trade for £700 and two to an Irish purchaser for £650.
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A large and impressive brass inlaid rosewood bracket clock doubled initial expectations to sell on the telephone at £2,600, proving horology remains a firm investment. With gilt and silvered arched dial, three subsidiary dials, striking movement with bells and chimes in a brass mounted arched case, together with its matching inlaid rectangular wall bracket, the time keeper dated from 1900-1920 and stood 30in (76cm) high.
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Various interested parties in the room sought a good quality old carved ivory chess set in natural ivory and red via the internet, but it was £250 offered in the room that acquired it, against expectations of £60-£80 and a commission bid of £600 bought the large pair of Naval sighting binoculars by Ross of London. Dated 1942, the equipment had its own fitted wooden case that shouted quality, being so large.
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Bidding was keen in the busy saleroom, and several surprises during the day included the £460 offered for an ivory mounted Malacca gentleman’s cane with silver ferrule, together with a similar example with carved ivory tiger’s head top, against an estimate of £50-£70. This was taken by a Devon buyer and the Devon trade took a 19th century brass mounted mahogany apothecary’s chest, the hinged lid revealing an assortment of named fitted bottles and stoppers above a base drawer with fitted brass mounted scales, weights plus glass mortar and pestle.
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Although damaged, this early chemist’s box sold for £360 and the Devon trade was once more successful to take the 19th century cream and red Italian marble bust of Alighieri Dante, with inset foundry seal for Aktien Geselschaft Galdenbeck Berlin, on a green marble base. Their bid of £580 took this 7.5in (19cm) over the border but a local buyer provided the winning bid of £1,350 to win an 18ct gold dress ring set with a solitaire diamond of just over 1ct, and £800 bought a glitzy 18ct white gold Art Deco-style bracelet with 54 brilliants.
