NEWS FEED
The remarkable variety of lots in Lawrences’ two-day Collectors’ auction in Crewkerne recently ensured interest from around the world and there were strong prices throughout the sale.
On the second day, high prices for the following lots show the breadth of the market as well as collectors’ determination to focus upon the rare and the unusual in the finest condition: a 19th Century Noah’s Ark with a good complement of painted wooden animals made £1760; a Jumeau `Triste` doll was accompanied by her dome-topped trunk with extra outfits within (£3530); a Steiff teddy bear in a snug red jacket made £1460 but, more unusually, a Steiff polar bear found a warm reception at £2310 and a Steiff donkey on wheels made £480; a cased microscope by Powell & Lealand with a cabinet of slides made £2920; an oil painting by Alan Fearnley depicting David Coulthard’s victory in the Australian Grand Prix in 2003 raced to £1190; an impressive moose’s head with antlers spanning over a metre made £1580; a Qing dynasty silk Kesi weave Chinese robe from Trent Manor found an Asian buyer at £7320; and an exquisite book of antique embroidered flowers and birds worked by the widow of Captain Alexander Hood was bid to £4390.
The day’s top price was paid for a rare Dunhill `aquarium` table lighter. Made of chrome and Perspex, each side was decorated with a swan or a goose. Bids flew in and the little lighter soared to just over £9000.
