The silver sale this March attracted global interest and saw strong results across all categories culminating in a fantastic 93% sold rate. Enthusiastic bidding in the room, on the internet and the phones saw many lots sell above estimate, with the top price of the day going to an impressive silver sculpture of Frankel by the acclaimed equestrian sculptor, Charlie Langton, which realised £22,304. This limited-edition sculpture was much admired during the view and was sold to a UK-based internet bidder.
Lot 3: A silver sculpture: Frankel Winning the 2000 Guineas.
The market for novelty silverware and small collectibles remains strong, as shown by the price realised by Lot 2, a Victorian novelty silver tortoise table bell, which sold for £4,330. A George III shell-shaped silver decanter label (lot 167) made by Benjamin Smith II & James Smith III in 1808 also sold well, realising £853 after competitive phone and internet bidding. The quality of this label was excellent and Benjamin Smith is known to have made very similar examples for George IV’s Grand Service in 1807-1808, which is likely to have contributed to the interest in this particular piece.
Lot 2: A Victorian novelty silver tortoise table bell.
17th and 18th century silverware was also well-bid in this sale, with standout results including an early George I silver punch bowl by Robert Timbrell & Joseph Bell I which realised £4,198, a lovely pair of Queen Anne salts which hammered well above estimate for £1150 and a Charles I silver apostle spoon, which realised £1378.
Lot 1: An early George I silver punch bowl.
Robert Timbrell & Joseph Bell I,
London, 1714
Significant pre-sale interest in Lot 35, a pair of Georgian Old Sheffield Plate barrel-shaped wine coolers provided an indication that they might sell above estimate! However, the £2,493 price realised exceeded our expectations and illustrated that impressive and useful examples of early Sheffield Plate remain highly desirable and sought after.
Lot 35: A pair of Georgian Old Sheffield Plate barrel-shaped wine coolers.
c.1810
This sale included an offering of thirty-eight lots of silver from the collection of the late David Cornwell, best known as the author John le Carré. The interesting provenance of these items resulted in plenty of pre-sale interest and competitive bidding, particularly for a pair of George III silver dishes engraved with the arms of the Earl of Coventry. Unique provenance – in this case a rare combination of both le Carre and Earl of Coventry connections – continues to capture the imagination of buyers and undoubtedly made these dishes doubly desirable. This was reflected in the strong realised price of £3,149.
Lot 54: A pair of George III silver dishes.
John Parker I & Edward Wakelin,
London, 1769
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