Antiques & Collectables

Antiques & Collectibles Rothschild Italian marble table forms centrepiece of New Forest house sale

A 200-year-old table valued at £3,500 around 100 years ago when it was bought by Alfred de Rothschild has sold at auction for more than £200,000.

The piece, an Italian micromosaic and marble table, was part of the £1.4 million sale of selected contents from Exbury House in Hampshire, which went under the hammer at the Woolley and Wallis salerooms, in Salisbury.

The metre-high table is believed to have been made by Giacomo Raffaelli, the inventor of the micromosaic technique, who also produced items of furniture for Napoleon Bonaparte at the turn of the 19th century.

It was bought by Alfred de Rothschild during the 1800s, originally for Halton House in Buckinghamshire, where it remained until being moved to Exbury around 100 years ago.

Four telephone bidders fought against a determined buyer in the room at the end of the five-hour sale.

Bidding opened at £35,000 and rapidly passed, what in hindsight provded a very conservative £40,000 to 60,000 guide price.

The room buyer was eventually successful at the final total of £200,000.

“The Rothschild family have long had a well-deserved reputation for sourcing exceptional pieces from high quality and talented craftsmen,” said specialist Mark YuanRichards, who was handling the auction.

“That is exemplified by this piece of finely detailed craftsmanship by one of the leading artists of the time.”

Other highlights of the auction were an 18th Century Chinese cloisonné cong vase at £75,000; a pair of Louis XV ormolu fire dogs, similar to a pair at Waddesdon Manor, which sold for £62,500; a pair of Louis XVI rock crystal and ormolu candlesticks at £37,500; an Italian embossed parade shield from the 19th Century, selling at £60,000, and an important pair of rosewood and ormolumounted tables at £65,000.

The sale concluded with a premium inclusive total of £1,390,875.

Right top: Detail of mosaic; below: the micromosaic and marble table Credit: Wooley & Wallis

Style the order of the day at auction

WOOLLEY & Wallis will host a Design auction on Wednesday and Thursday, October 19 and 20.

The auction follows design from the Aesthetic Movement of the mid 19th century to designers of today, covering ceramics and glass, furniture and lighting, works on paper, metal ware and jewellery.

Included in the sale is a small collection of items from the descendants of Lewis Foreman Day (1845-1910).

Day was a polymath and designed for ceramics, textiles, furniture and metalware whilst also writing numerous books on pattern and textile design.

The auction also includes two vases probably designed by Lewis F Day, one for Maw & Co, the other an unknown factory, both consigned by family descendants.

For more information and to browse an online catalogue, log on to the Woolley & Wallis website at www. woolleyandwallis.co.uk.

Folk art box estimated at £200-300

Clothes, hats, shoes, fabrics and more besides

Acreman St. Antiques Auction Sherborne is holding its specialist Textile, Fashion & Apparel Auction on Friday 21 October with viewing on Thursday 20 October 10am5pm.

This is predominantly a one-owner sale of mostly clothing from the Victorian and Edwardian era, 1920s to 1950s, up to 1970s and 1980s. Hats, shoes and fabrics from the 1960s and 1970s and antique fabrics and lace are also on offer.

Acreman is holding its General Antiques & Collectors Auction on Friday 28 October with viewing on Thursday 27 10am-5pm. It will include jewellery, silver and watches, paintings and prints, ephemera including stamps and postcards, coins, Oriental items and collectables.

Anyone who would like to consign items should contact Gill Norman on 07908 333577 or 01935 50874, or email auction@ acremanstreetantiques.co.uk

Acreman can take in everything from single items and complete collections up to full house clearances at competitive rates. It also offers free valuations every

Victorian silk and lace

Collection of vintage hats

Wednesday 10am-4pm on items individuals are considering for auction at Acreman Auction, 121 Acreman Street, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 3PH.

This 1918 Military Cross group awarded to Temporary 2nd Lieut John William Willey DLI is being sold by Duke’s Auctioneers

Duke’s last call for coins and medals

Duke’s of Dorchester is inviting final entries for its Coins and Medals auction whjich will take place on Friday 18 November.

Some exceptional lots have already been consigned including an October 1918 Military Cross group awarded to Temporary 2nd Lieut John William Willey DLI, who signed up at 17 and under age. On 24 October 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross for re-organising his battalion after his commanding officer was wounded.

The attack successfully continued thanks to his level headedness and quick thinking.

The collection will come to auction estimated at £800£1,200. An exceedingly rare Second World War Submariners DSM, another highlight of the auction, is estimated at £2,400-£2,800.

It was awarded to Petty Officer Charles Payne, who having survived the sinkings of HMS Pandora and HMS Olympus, even swimming seven miles back to Malta, was killed onboard HMS Traveller aged 31.

Anyone who owns coins or medals and would like confidential free advice or more information about the auction is advised to phone Julian Smith on 01305 265080 or email julian.smith@dukes-auctions. com