Roseberys' September Silver auction saw strong results across the categories, with Contemporary, Russian and Continental silver seeing much of the strongest bidding. Quality Georgian and Victorian silverware also sold well, as did collectables, cutlery, novelties, and items with interesting historical associations.
An enamelled Russian silver box by Maria Semyonova generated significant pre-sale interest, and strong internet bidding drove the hammer price well up over estimate to £3936. Marked for Moscow (1899 – 1908), the cover was beautifully enamelled ‘en plein’ with pansies and the polychrome enamelled sides further added to its charm. The piece formed part of a private collection belonging to the Late Jane Sinclair Morpeth, which also included a pair of Chinese silver liquor cups with the mark of mark of Xin Bao Wan, which sold well above estimate, realising £984.
Silver with interesting historical associations continues to find a ready market, with private buyers and collectors keen to own a piece of history. Historical highlights in this sale included an early Victorian silver mounted dog collar formerly belonging to Charles, 2nd Earl Talbot (1777-1849), which hammered above estimate to realise £1312, and a George III silver mug with an inscription relating to the doomed ‘coffin ship’ SS. London, which sank in 1866, drowning almost all of its passengers. The mug hammered within estimate to realise £577.
Contemporary silverware continues to perform strongly at auction, with two lots from the property of the Late Jane Sinclair Morpeth generating particular interest from collectors. An intricately chased Britannia silver bowl by Michael Lloyd realised £1050 while a pair of small enamelled ‘Grass Bowls’ by Cara Murphy sold for £420 (inc. BP).
Lot 61: A contemporary Britannia silver bowl. Michael Lloyd, London, 1991
French and Italian silver performed strongly in this sale, with an impressive Italian silver dish embossed with pheasants realising £1574 and several sets of Puiforcat silver bowls and dishes hammering above estimate. These included a set of ten silver finger bowls, which realised £2099 and a set of ten side plates which realised £1837. American silver by important makers such as Gorham and Bigelow, Kennard & Co. was also well-bid, with a pair of entrée dishes by Gorham realising £1706.
A number of quality Georgian pieces generated interest from bidders, including an impressive George III silver tray by John Crouch and Thomas Hannam, which realised £2624 and a large George IV silver table snuff box which hammered above estimate to realise £1246.
Lot 2: A George III oval silver tea tray. Thomas Hannan and John Crouch. London, 1807.
Price Realised: £2,624
This was another strong silver sale with an over 80% sale rate indicating that the market for silver remains buoyant. Quality, decorative silver continues to generate interest both in the UK and overseas, as does Contemporary silverware and collectable pieces. We look forward to bringing another carefully curated Silver sale to market on 27th November.