Auction alert: The Private Collection of Malcolm Evans of Neath & Navenby: Clocks & Antiques

Amazing Fantasy No.15 published by Marvel Comics

The sale of the Private Collection of Malcolm Evans of Neath & Navenby: Clocks & Antiques takes place on Saturday 27th Aug 2022 from 10am.

Malcolm grew up in a miner’s cottage in Skewen, South Wales and studied for his A Levels by candlelight as his childhood home had no electricity. This deprivation lead to a contrary spirit of generosity as an adult and he loved his British Horological Society pals and sharing his knowledge and skills. His education at Neath Grammar School gave him a passion for science and subsequent medical training at Bristol University lead him to a career in surgery. This lead him to fixing precious things in his spare time and he was a keen horologist for the last 45 years of his life. He amassed a wonderful collection of clocks, watches, tools and antiques and a huge collection of books associated with his passion.

Although the sale contains a huge number of clocks, watches, spare parts and other horology items (of which – we confess – we know very little) there are many other interesting lots.

There’s a copy of the original Marvel comic where Spiderman made his début (shown above). It’s signed by the late Stan Lee and its estimate is an astronomical £30-35… THOUSAND. The original 1962 price was 12 cents – that’s a great return on investment in anyone’s book!

Stamford Auction Rooms’ buyer’s premium stands at 24% inc. VAT. You can bid via their website or via EasyLiveAuction. The latter charge a flat fee of £3.00 or 3% of the final hammer price.

Plywood wine carrier

Lot 143: A plywood wine carrier with strap handle to the top
Estimate: £20 – £30

Two Victorian glass domes

Lot 190: Two Victorian glass domes, one circular the other oval
No base for circular example
Estimate: £40 – £60

pair of antique boot trees

Lot 196: A pair of antique boot trees together with pair of leather gentleman’s boots
Estimate: £50 – £80

Victorian sampler by Ann Foster, Stamford School

Lot 205: Local Interest: A Victorian sampler by Ann Foster Stamford School
Aged 11 years, with a verse from the bible “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth”.
Estimate: £70 – £100

Amazing Fantasy No.15 published by Marvel Comics

Lot 268: Amazing Fantasy No.15 published by Marvel Comics in August 1962
Featuring the first appearance of Spider-Man, signed by Stan Lee to the front cover
Estimate: £30,000 – £35,000

Group of Danish Cylinda Line designed pieces by Arne Jacobson

Lot 296: A group of Danish Cylinda Line designed pieces by Arne Jacobson
To include coffee pot, hot water pot, milk jug and sugar bowl together with a studio pottery lamp base, Royal Copenhagen bowl and Poole pottery bowl
Estimate: £30 – £50

Selection of mid-century Holmegaard glassware

Lot 300: A selection of mid-century Holmguard (sic) glassware
To include beakers, hors d’oeuvre dishes, and glasses
Estimate: £40 – £60

vintage electric childs organ

Lot 321: A vintage electric child’s organ
Possibly made by Magnus together with a push penny board
Estimate: £20 – £30

vintage Dapol Doctor Who Dalek action figure play set

Lot 363: A vintage Dapol Doctor Who Dalek action figure play set in the original box
Estimate: £60 – £90

20th century Maclamp

Lot 438: A 20th Century Maclamp
Adjustable anglepoise desk lamp designed by Terence Conran for Habitat
Estimate: £30 – £50

Wicker picnic baskets

Lot 458: Two wicker picnic baskets
One by Fortnum & Mason, together with a Victorian brass kettle and warming pan
Estimate: £30 – £50

Auction Alert: 20th Century Design

Arne Jacobsen for Skelton: A Cylinda-Line Stainless Steel Coffee Set

 

Tennants is the largest family-owned fine art auctioneers in the UK with branches in London, Harrogate and Leyburn in North Yorkshire – the latter being where the upcoming 20th Century Design sale is being held. It takes place on (THIS!!) Saturday 26th February 2022, from 9:30am, with 242 lots coming up for sale.

The first 29 lots are Whitefriars art glass – mainly ones designed by Geoffrey Baxter with a few from William Wilson and Harry Dyer. If you wanted to start a ready-made collection of Whitefriar’s glass, now is your chance!

Over the years, I’ve seen lots of examples of wooden furniture by ‘The Mouseman‘ – who carved a little figure of a mouse as his signature somewhere on his work – dozens of which are coming under the hammer here. I was unaware of the many, many other similar furniture-makers… Beaverman, Eagleman, Foxman, Rabbitman, Squirrilman, Woodpeckerman, Wrenman and Gnomeman. There will be examples of all of their works in this sale.

In order to bid online, you need to register on the Tennants website – there’s and online bidding surcharge of 1.5% + VAT in addition to the 22% buyer’s premium on the final hammer price.

Alternatively, bid via The Saleroom where there’s a surcharge of 4.95% + VAT on the hammer price (again, in addition to the standard 22% buyer’s premium).

For certain sales, we offer a packing and shipping service for items up to a total value of £5,000 (inclusive of buyer’s premium, VAT and any other associated charges). Packages can be up to 60cm x 60cm. Prices range (from £20) depending on the size and destination. Items are fully insured and can be tracked from dispatch to delivery. Prior to bidding please contact us to ensure that we can assist with shipping for an item.

For items that they won’t ship themselves, they recommend a number of other shippers and couriers.

Whitefriars - Geoffrey Baxter: A Large Textured Range Banjo Glass Vase

Lot 1: Whitefriars – Geoffrey Baxter: A Large Textured Range Banjo Glass Vase
In aubergine, pattern 9681, 1972 catalogue, 33cm high
Estimate: £800 – £1,200

Whitefriars - Geoffrey Baxter: Six Textured Range Coffin Glass Vases

Lot 21: Whitefriars – Geoffrey Baxter: Six Textured Range Coffin Glass Vases
In pewter, cinnamon, willow, kingfisher blue, ruby and flint, pattern 9686,13cm high
Estimate: £150 – £250

Tibor Reich (Hungarian, 1916-1996): for Denby Pottery

Lot 77: Tibor Reich (Hungarian, 1916-1996): for Denby Pottery
A Tigo Ware Retek Raddish Pourer, black body, stamped TIGO, 18.5cm high; and Two Tigo Ware Tok Marrow Pourers, black body with incised white stripes, one stamped TIGO (twice) the other MADE IN ENGLAND, 21.5cm high (3)
Estimate: £100 – £150

Arne Jacobsen for Skelton: A Cylinda-Line Stainless Steel Coffee Set

Lot 95: Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) for Skelton (sic): A Cylinda-Line Stainless Steel Coffee Set
Comprising coffee pot and cover, creamer, sugar bowl, serving tray and a revolving ashtray, tray and coffee pot labelled skelton (sic) stainless from denmark design arne jacobsen cylinda-line no.01_1 and no.014 2, coffee pot 17cm high
Estimate: £100 – £150

Craddock (Harry). The Savoy Cocktail Book

Lot 108: Craddock (Harry). The Savoy Cocktail Book
1st edition, London: Constable & Company, Ltd., 1930. 8vo, original cloth-backed pictorial silver boards, colour illustrations throughout by Gilbert Rumbold, binding slightly rubbed as usual, small abrasion to front board, bound without errata slip, a few trivial spots internally
Estimate: £200 – £300

A Pair of Art Deco Frankart Figural Bookends

Lot 110: A Pair of Art Deco Frankart Figural Bookends
Cast as steamlined female heads, cast FRANKART INC PAT APPLD FOR, each 15cm high
Estimate: £100 – £150

Robert Mouseman Thompson: An English Oak and Steel Woodworking Tool

Lot 132: Robert Mouseman Thompson (1876-1955): An English Oak and Steel Woodworking Tool
With steel tip, brass ferrule and oak handle, with carved mouse trademark to top of handle, 12cm long
Estimate: £100 – £150

Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen: A Pair of Swan Swivel Armchairs

Lot 235: Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971) for Fritz Hansen: A Pair of Swan Swivel Armchairs
Model No.3320, tan leather, on a swivelling cast aluminium four point base, stamped FH MADE IN DENMARK, 74cm wide, 87cm high
Estimate: £3,000 – £4,000

Designer Desire: Arne Jacobsen

Mosaic of Arne Jacobsen designs | H is for Home

Arne Jacobsen was one of the designers that featured in our 100 Chairs book review this week. He’s best known for his iconic chairs – the Swan, the Egg, the Ant, the Giraffe, the Tongue – but during his 40-year career, he also designed lighting, stainless steel tableware, cutlery, textiles and buildings.

Probably his most famous building is the SAS Royal Hotel (now known as the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel) which opened in 1960 in his home city of Copenhagen. He designed the building and almost all its fixtures & fittings, from the furniture down to the ashtrays.

Many of his works are still in production; you can purchase genuine vintage or brand new pieces from eBay, Heal’s, Trouva and the Conran Shop.

Arne Jacobsen portraitcredit

Image credits:

1st Dibs | Etsy

Bookmarks: Miller’s Mid-Century Modern

'Bookmarks' blog post banner

'Mid-Century Modern' by Judith Miller surrounded by vintage Mid-century modern homewares including a West German fat lava vase, bright orange pedestal cigarette lighter, small Cathrineholm enamelware Lotus bowl and still life oil painting

In today’s Bookmarks post, we’re taking a peek at Miller’s Mid-Century Modern – living with mid-century modern design by Judith Miller.

title page of "Mid-Century Modern" by Judith Miller with a small Cathrineholm enamelware Lotus bowl

Well, a bit more of a peek, really, as we linger over some of the wonderful pieces on display!

interior view of the mid-century modern design Kauffman House sitting room

Mid-century modern is one of our favourite eras for interior design, illustration, textiles and product design…

Arne Jacobsen "Ant" and "Swan" chairs

…so as the pages turned, there was a soundtrack of many oohs and ahhs!

selection of vintage Mid-Century Modern glassware including a kingfisher blue "Drunken Bricklayer" vase designed for Whitefriars by Geoffrey Baxter

Judith Miller is most famous for her all-encompassing antiques & collectables guides which are published annually.

collection of colourful West German "Fat Lava" pottery pots and vases

In recent years, they’ve included an ever-increasing number of 20th century pieces in response to interest & demand.

collection of GPlan furniture including a nest of pebble tables and "Butterfly" chairs designed by Lucian Ercolani

This book concentrates solely on mid-century modern – 1950s to the 1970s being the period generally accepted.

collection of vintage mid-century modern glass vases

A wonderful introductory chapter covers its evolution and influential designers.

collection of vintage mid-century modern chairs including examples designed by Charles and Ray Eames and Carlo di Carli

The movement perfectly encapsulated a new mood of optimism after the war years with revolutionary designs, materials & techniques.

collection of vintage mid-century modern pop art chairs including examples designed by Egon Eiermann and Günter Beltzig

The fresh ideas, and indeed disposable income, of a whole new generation began to soar.

vintage mid-century modern chair designed by Eero Saarinen and folding cube radio designed by Richard Sapper

There are examples of houses & interiors that encapsulate the era – less cluttered and designed for modern living.

vintage mid-century modern George Nelson "Spike" wall clock, Tommi Parzinger-designed sideboard and mahogany credenza and aluminium armchair designed by Harvey Probber

A broad array of objects is included, with chapters given over to furniture, lighting, glass, ceramics, metalware & textiles.

collection of vintage mid-century modern glass vases produced by Riihimaki of Finland

In addition, an extensive section covers the people responsible for these wonderful & iconic designs.

collection of vintage mid-century modern fabric

There are about 200 familiar & not so familiar names who are given a short, individual write up.

Mid-Century Modern text

We’ll just scratch the surface by mentioning Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton, Eero Saarinen, Alvar Aalto, Robert Welch, Stig Lindberg, Lucienne Day, Per Lutken, Charles & Ray Eames.

view of a sitting room with black Barcelona chairs and sofas

The book is packed with quality, full colour photographic references throughout…

vintage "Valentine" typewriter designed by Ettore Sottsass, Peter and Alison Smithson chair and Ronald Stennett-Wilson green glass candlestick

…and as with all Miller’s guides – estimated values to accompany each item image.

vintage mid-century modern Marcel Breuer reclining chair and Holmegaard "Gulvase" designed by Otto Brauer

There’s also a useful directory included of international dealers and their contact details – broken down into categories such as ceramics, glass, furniture, lighting etc.

collection of American-designed vintage mid-century modern furniture

As well as auctions & fairs and museums if you fancy going to see or sometimes handle wares in the flesh.

vintage mid-century modern posters by Saul Bass and Herbert Bayer

The book is well researched and accessible – a perfect coffee table browser or excellent source book for your library.

collection of vintage Scandinavian mid-century modern ceramic pots, vases and plaques

Mid-Century Modern – living with mid-century modern design is available from the publishers Octopus, Amazon and AbeBooks.

collection of vintage Scandinavian mid-century modern ceramics designed by Stig Lindberg

[Many thanks to Octopus for the review copy]