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Arts & Antiques
Probate | Insurance | Auction Family & Matrimonial | CGT | General Inventory
As good as new
A recent example of a restoration project by Andrew James Carved Stone Letters
HEADSTONE restoration, re-lettering and repair are just some of the services offered by Andrew James Carved Stone Letters.
The family-run business, based just outside of Wells, also creates and installs new memorials as well as bespoke house signs.
Andrew James said: “Someone didn’t believe that my ‘before’ and ‘after’ angel restoration photos were of the same headstone, but – having worked on it for hours (in the cold!) – I could assure them it most certainly was!
“A bit of ageing is lovely – I love walking around churchyards and feeling the history there with headstones dating back hundreds of years. You wouldn’t want them all to look brand new, but there are also lots of fairly recent ones that look more aged than they should.”
Andrew added: “We clean, re-level and repair the stones, making sure they meet modern industry safety regulations and repaint the letters using the latest durable paints – including one that looks like gold leaf but costs less and lasts longer! I’m always very proud to see my efforts make a ‘failed’ memorial look as good as new again. . .”
Stars of the East dominate sale
CLEVEDON Salerooms held their Winter Specialist Fine Art Sale on Thursday, November 24th. Seasonal downpours outside did little to dampen the enthusiasm of bidders at the sale, resulting in strong prices and a sale total well over expectations.
As is so often the case, Chinese taste lay behind some of the day’s best performing lots, all of which attracted strong online and telephone competition. Leading the pack, a large 19th century Chinese flared footed vase, well painted with three kylin which measured in at an impressive 41cm high.
Although unmarked, it clearly struck a chord and after some feverish bidding the hammer finally fell at £7,200. Also causing a good deal of excitement, a Chinese Canton porcelain Gu “Bajixiang” vase, delicately painted in the Famille Rose palette.
Bearing an "archaic seal" mark of the Emperor Jiaxing (1796-1820), despite some professional restoration, it left its estimate standing to sell for £5,200. From the same local deceased estate, and scoring high on decorative appeal, a large Chinese Republican (early 20th century) porcelain panel painted with a mountainous landscape, sold for a very respectable £3,200.
Amongst a strong showing of quality silver, once again it was China that led the way. A Chinese export white metal mug, the handle formed as a dragon,
surpassed all expectations to sell for £2,200. Other highlights in the Asian section included an impressive, matched pair of 18th century Japanese Imari moulded vases and covers. Catalogued as “large”, With at 66cm high they were perhaps better CHRIS YEO described as monumental and, despite significant repairs to one vase, their decorative appeal was clear to see. The focus of fast-paced bidding, they quickly left their estimate in the shade to sell for £3,600. With 2023 on the horizon, Clevedon Salerooms are gearing up for an exciting year of Fine Art and Interiors auctions, as well as their free valuation days at the saleroom, which will run every Monday (except Bank Holidays), and regular outside valuation events.
Chris Yeo is a valuer at Clevedon Salerooms and regular expert on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow Please visit the website www.clevedonsalerooms.com for more details
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RECENT auctions continue to deliver strong results for vendors and provide collectors opportunities to source quality items.
In the November Fine Asian Art auction, an Imperial famille rose “Dragon” moon flask sold for £227,500. The flattened globular body, finely enamelled on each side and depicting two pink scaly confronted five claw dragons between lotus blossoms, was a rare example and attracted potential buyers from around the world.
Later in the auction, an exceptional pair of damascene bronze and silver vases by Kashima Ippu (1828-1900) led the Japanese works of art section of the auction. Finely crafted with intricate designed panels depicting carp, duck, fishing boats and mountain landscape views they sing of quality and sold for £75,400. Classic car auctions continue to thrive with marquee viewings which are consistently well received both by buyers and local enthusiasts who revel in an opportunity to view the cars next to the Cheese & Grain in Frome. The October auction was led by a 1962 Lancia Flamina Sport 3C 2.5 litre coupé which sold for £107,520. The car that grabbed everyone’s interest and imagination was the 1964 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 series 1, offered as a restoration project, selling for £81,760.
December’s Jewellery and Watches auctions drew strong interest. The top lot was a carved back opal warriors head by Wilhelm Schmidt, who was the most important opal cameo carver of the 19th century, and which sold for £9,100. A collection of peridot pieces all sold beyond expectation, led by a 19th century peridot and diamond set brooch selling for £7,800.
An exciting programme of auctions is planned for 2023, offering a variety of opportunities for sellers. The team at Dore & Rees can help you understand the value of items in your collection by arranging a valuation appointment at your home or at Dore and Rees auction salerooms in Frome. Contact the team on 01373 462 257 or by email enquiries@doreandrees.com to arrange an appointment. *Sold prices include fees
UPCOMING AUCTIONS
Wednesday, January 25th Select Interiors Saturday, March 11th Classic Cars Wednesday, March 22nd Fine Jewellery and Watches TBC May Fine Asian Art
Busy calendar planned at Mendip Auction Rooms
THE team at the Mendip Auction Rooms have released their calendar of sales for 2023 and a busy year is in prospect.
The regular Fine Art and Antiques sales as well as Interiors & Collectables sales will be continuing with three sales being held each month. Throughout 2022, the silver and jewellery sales staged at the auction rooms continued to expand attracting interest from around the world and these will continue on a bi-monthly basis alongside specialist sections in Militaria and Modern Design.
The twice-yearly popular sales of Sporting items, Fine Wines and Spirits are continuing. A sale of Classic Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia will take place in June.
Tom Killen said: “We are fortunate to have expertise within our team to be able to provide advice and conduct this full range of sales. We are supported by a large number of very experienced consultants who provide detailed knowledge on a vast range of items from jewellery to stamps to guns to oriental ceramics.
“The auction rooms provide a great venue where items can be displayed properly and collection and delivery is straight-forward. It is possible to bid online at all our sales and we continue to attract global interest at each sale.
“Many are nervous about attending an auction but there is nothing to be nervous about. It is fun and we do all we can to make people feel welcome. It is a case of simply turning up and watching the action!”
Are you looking to sell items in our sales? Valuations can be undertaken on a drop-in basis at the auction rooms between 10am and 3pm each weekday and Killens have professional valuers and experts on hand to advise. Alternatively, valuers are able to conduct free home visits.
Contact the team at Killens on 01749 840770 or email enquiries@mendipauctionrooms.co.uk for further assistance
Remembering the “big freeze”
Keen steam railway enthusiast Nigel Brown – a volunteer member of the Permanent Way team at the Somerset and Dorset Heritage Railway at Midsomer Norton – recalls the start of the terrible winter of 1962/63 when a train was “lost” on Mendip for three days.
DURING the 1950s and 1960s, it was always the policy of Bath Green Park engine sheds to take a tank engine out of service for use as a snow plough engine in the early winter.
The wisdom of this idea became apparent 60 years ago during the severe winter of 1962-3 when the chosen engine was No 47496, a 0-6-0 tank locomotive known to Bath railwaymen as a Bagnall and to railway enthusiasts as a Jinty.
The buffers were removed, the snowplough bolted on and the engine kept hot for use at short notice.
On Boxing Day, 1962, it started to snow a little but on January 2nd, 1963, the snow became heavy and turned into a blizzard so, early the next day Driver Holden set out on 47496 to clear the way ahead of the 2.40am “down” mail train over the Somerset and Dorset Railway. 47496 then returned to Bath and was coupled to the mail and set off again for Evercreech.
All the while, snow continued to fall and there was much drifting. The train managed – just – to pass Shepton Mallet but It It then became stuck in the deep cuttings at Cannard’s Grave.
Meanwhile, the 3.30am train following the mail got stuck at Windsor Hill, just outside Shepton Mallet and was abandoned by the crew, the enginemen given shelter in a farmhouse. The down mail was eventually dug out and continued south the next day but the northern part of the S&D was blocked until the “lost” 3.30am train was recovered three days later on January 6th.
Limited traffic could resume but it took another week to clear the “up” line so northern working could restart.
It has to be said that, although the western region of British Railways had begun to wind down the S&D – and all the staff could see that closure of the line was coming soon – the dedication and sense of duty shown by the staff involved in the line clearance was typical of the spirit of the S&D. l You can read more about the impact of the snow on the S&D in the book The Somerset and Dorset in the Sixties, by Ivo Peters with a foreword by Mike Arlett. DVDs of Ivo’s film work can be found at: www.ivopeters.co.uk
7F 53809 stands just north of Binegar with the brake van and last four wagons of the previous Thursday’s stranded 3.30am “down” goods train. The rear section had earlier been recovered from Windsor Hill
Nigel Brown at work on the railway at Midsomer Norton The Jinty fitted with its snowplough, and its assisting 8F, at Binegar
