A world of treasures to start the year

Nick Hall from Bentley’s Fine Art Auctioneers tells the Times about some of the fascinating lots from around the globe coming up for auction in their February sale…

This is a New Year and a new season, and as we piece together our auction for February 4, the incredible freshness and diversity of the treasures and objects we come across never ceases to amaze me.

Just some of the 800 eclectic lots on offer include an antique oak pig bench. Believed to date from the late 17th or 18th century, these rustic pieces of furniture were originally used for cutting up a slaughtered pig ready to be salted and hung to cure.

The simple construction made it easy to wash and clean, before being returned to domestic use.

Charm

Full of character and social historical charm from a bygone era, they are popular with buyers today. This one is approximately 4’6” long and is estimated to 'bring home the bacon’ of around £300-£500.

Another lot with an interesting history and function is a marine chronometer by Thomas Mercer Ltd.

This a precision timepiece was carried on board a ship and employed to determine the ship’s position – finding longitude at sea by celestial navigation.

This superb example from a top maker is also estimated to sail away with a buyer at a price of around £300-£500.

Of interest to collectors of Persian works of art is an inherited private collection of dallahs –traditional Arabic coffee pots. These are currently very collectable.

This collection is split into various lots, with mostly three-figure estimates, although some have fetched thousands of pounds in previous sales, so if this collection percolates with wealthy Middle Eastern collectors, these could be the lots to watch.

Also from the same collection is some fabulous Middle Eastern silver with finely-detailed decoration. Split into various lots with various estimates, they are expected to light up the online bidding platforms on sale day.

A good private collection of jewellery includes a fabulous 18ct gold and amethyst pendant, estimated at £600-£800, while another collection contains a lovely vintage five-stone diamond ring, estimated at £500-£700.