Huge interest in timepiece

This week saw the Christmas auction take place at the Halls Fine Art salesroom in Shrewsbury with a Victorian timepiece taking centre stage.

One of the most popular items in the sale this year was a mid-19^th century gilt brass strut timepiece numbered 1041 in the manner of Thomas Cole.

Known as the great Victorian maker, Cole’s timepieces are easily identified by their beautiful designs, superb engraving and excellent quality, and this was no exception. The glazed silvered dial with Roman numerals and foliate engraved centre sat in a beautifully detailed engraved rectangular outer frame.

This flat, portable clock also known as a strut is one of Thomas Cole’s most popular designs and his reputation for quality made this a very attractive item for the bidders. Estimated at a value of between £1,500 and £2,000 this Victorian classic ended on a final hammer price of £3,700.

Furniture was also very popular with bidders and there were some superb pieces on offer. A highlight was an Arts and Crafts three piece chestnut bedroom suite designed by the popular British furniture designer Sir Ambrose Heal.

This late 20^th century collection comprising of a double door wardrobe, a matching dressing table and a chest of drawers, all in the simplistic, no-frills design which Heal was renowned for. These sturdy pieces of furniture proved to be very popular on the day of the auction with a final hammer price of £2,900.

Some of the more rare and unique items included in the sale were brass dog collars. The most popular was dated 1760 and had an open work frame spelling KORNELIS DEBONT which sold for a staggering £2,000. Another fabulous collectable item was a George III lacquered brass reflecting telescope by Francis Watkins contained within a mahogany case, this beautiful piece sold to a final bid of £2,800.

Jeremy Lamond, Fine Art director commented on the sale saying: ‘We have seen some beautiful and rare pieces in our sales this year, with some exciting bids which shocked us all, our Christmas sale overall was a very successful sale to end the year on and we are very much looking forward to what the New Year will bring us. Don’t forget that our first sale of the New Year is Wednesday 9^thJanuary!’