Auction alert: Period Oak, Country Furniture & Effects

Victorian blue & white transfer printed toy dinner service

Today, in this week’s Auction Alert, we’re featuring probably our favourite ever auction house; Wilkinson’s, who is based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

Wilkinson’s holds regular sales, however, it’s their twice-yearly, 2-day Period Oak, Country Furniture & Effects auction that we regularly try to get over to view in person. When you go through their unassuming front door, what you’re greeted by is a sale room full of museum-quality furniture and fittings. It’s incredible!

Rather than choosing to highlight the more usual, large pieces of furniture, we’ve honed in on some of the more quirky items such as antique doll’s house items and painted ceramic fruit.

The next one of these special sales takes place on Sat 27 Nov 2021, from 11am (lots: 1-400) & Sun 28 Nov 2021, again, from 11am (lots: 401-800). The sale catalogue isn’t up on their own website just yet, but you can view it on The Saleroom’s website.

There’s a buyer’s premium of 24% (inc. VAT/sales tax) with an additional online commission of 6% (inc. VAT/sales tax). Bidding through the Saleroom website incurs a fee of 5% of the hammer price plus VAT.

19th century miniature grey & white speckled enamel wash set

Lot 81: A 19th century miniature grey & white speckled enamel wash set
Comprising of a baluster water jug 4¼” (11 cm) high, and bowl 6½” (21.5 cm) in diameter, a soap dish, brush tray, and a lidded slop bucket fitted with a wicker swing handle. Also a group of 19th century miniature treen washing implements: a rubbing board 8½” x 5″ (21.5 cm x 13 cm), a dolly 6¼” (16 cm) in height, and two boarded rectangular wash troughs with spayed sides.
Estimate: £80 – £160

Toy dinner service

Lot 82: A delightful Victorian blue & white transfer printed toy dinner service
Decorated with lacy trellis work edged with rose garland borders. Comprising of eleven 3¼” (8.5 cm) plates, six 3½” (9 cm) soup plates, a large twin-handled tureen with stand and cover surmounted by a moulded floral knop finial. A smaller lidded tureen on stand of conforming design. A pair of oval lidded tureen with lug handles. An oval serving bowl on a pedestal foot and stand. And four graduated serving platters.
Estimate: £80 – £160

Tin chicken feeder

Lot 95: A vintage blue painted tin chicken feeder
With conical top, 9″ (23 cm) in height.
Estimate: £20 – £40

Two large 19th century glass gypsy balls

Lot 120: Two large 19th century glass gypsy balls
The largest of silvered mirror 14″ (35.5 cm) in diameter, the smaller one of blue glass 8″ (20 cm) in diameter.
Estimate: £50 – £100

Four slip glazed red earthenware dishes

Lot 150: A group of four slip glazed red earthenware dishes
Of rounded oblong form. The largest being a 19th century pie dish with engrailed rim and stylised foliate sprays in cream slip on a brown glazed interior, 3½” (9 cm) high, 17″ x 13″ (43 cm x 33 cm). The second decorated with creamy yellow glazed looped trails around the borders and diagonally across the centre of the reddish brown glazed interior, 3″ (7.5 cm) high, 15½” x 12½” (39 cm x 32 cm). The third with central divide, decorated with feathery spray and dots of cream slip on a reddish brown glaze, 2½” (6.5 cm) high, 11″ x 8″ (28 cm x 20 cm). The smallest with cream slip decoration on a brown glazed ground, a central divide and beaded rims, 2″ (5 cm) high, 9¼” x 7″ (23.5 cm x 18 cm).
Estimate: £80 – £160

19th century copper & tin oval jelly mould

Lot 208: A 19th century copper & tin oval jelly mould
The top decorated with a recumbent lion above fluted sides, 5″ (13 cm) high, 6¼” x 4¼” (16 cm x 11 cm).
Estimate: £50 – £100

Pair of 19th century leather fire buckets

Lot 270: A pair of 19th century leather fire buckets
With riveted side seams and round foot seams, leather strap handles and iron bound rims, 12″ (30.5 cm) high [excluding handle], 10″ (25 cm) in diameter.
Estimate: £300 – £400

Vintage painted ceramic artificial fruit & nuts

Lot 280: A group of vintage painted ceramic artificial fruit & nuts (22 pieces)
Estimate: £150 – £250

Large carved & polychromed Corpus Christi

Lot 727: A large carved & polychromed Corpus Christi, Spanish Colonial
Late 16th century. The figure carved with detailed hair and beard, a prominent rib cage, painted embellishment to the loin cloth and tenon jointed arms, 43½” (110 cm) in length.
Estimate: £2,000 – £3,000

Auction alert: Titanic, White Star and Transport Memorabilia

First-Class Wisteria brown and gilt egg cup

I’m not really that interested in historic maritime affairs, but who isn’t fascinated by the Titanic? That’s why I was drawn to the catalogue for the Titanic, White Star and Transport Memorabilia auction. It takes place at Henry Aldridge on 13 Nov 2021, from 12 noon in Devizes in Wiltshire. However, bidding online is an option if you’re not local.

There are 296 lots in total and include original items from the Titanic, commemorative items of the tragedy and even lots to do with the famous 90s film starring Leo & Kate.

In addition to the Titanic, there are historic items from RMS Lusitania, Queen Mary and the White Star Line company in general, P&O and Cunard – including the QE2.

Buyer’s premium is set at 24% (inc. VAT) and an online commission of 3.60% (inc. VAT)

Lots purchased via the-saleroom.com live auction service will be subject to an additional 5% commission charge + VAT at the rate imposed on the hammer price. If you’re using the www.easyliveauction.com platform it is subject to an additional 3% + VAT (or flat fee of £3.00) levied by the provider.

P&O oversize poster 'P&O 1837-1937 A Hundred Years of Sea Transport'

Lot 24: OCEAN LINER: Rare P&O oversize poster ‘P&O 1837-1937 A Hundred Years of Sea Transport’
Shows every vessel during that period. Framed and glazed. 40ins. x 62ins.
Estimate: £700 – £1,200

Steiff commemorative Teddy Bear Othello Replica 1912

Lot 38: R.M.S. TITANIC: Steiff commemorative Teddy Bear Othello Replica 1912
Measures approximately 14ins. tall sitting/19½ins. tall standing. This is the larger of the commemorative editions produced by Steiff for the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic. Limited Edition No 846 of 1912. With original certificate of authenticity and outer box.
Estimate: £200 – £300

CUNARD: Queen Elizabeth II Queen's Grill Wedgwood teapot

Lot 63: CUNARD: Queen Elizabeth II Queen’s Grill Wedgwood teapot. 5ins.
Estimate: £60 – £80

CUNARD: 1960s Queen Elizabeth II cabin stool

Lot 79: CUNARD: 1960s Queen Elizabeth II cabin stool
From Cabin 4022. Provenance ex Cobwebs, Southampton. 16ins.
Estimate: £150 – £250

CUNARD: Mixed selection of printed and shipboard items

Lot 111: CUNARD: Mixed selection of printed and shipboard items
Including, playing cards, matches, baggage labels, etc.
Opening bid: £5

R.M.S. Doric chest of four drawers

Lot 112: WHITE STAR LINE: R.M.S. Doric chest of four drawers
Each of fall front design. Ex White Star Memories Museum Collection. 31½ins.
Estimate: £350 – £450

WHITE STAR LINE: Shipboard coat hangers

Lot 133: WHITE STAR LINE: Shipboard coat hangers. (2)
Estimate: £70 – £100

Oceanic Steam Navigation Company cobalt blue and gilt Greek key pattern large teacup and saucer

Lot 149: WHITE STAR LINE: Rare Oceanic Steam Navigation Company cobalt blue and gilt Greek key pattern large teacup and saucer. 6½ins.
Estimate: £500 – £800

First-Class Wisteria brown and gilt egg cup

Lot 160: WHITE STAR LINE: Extremely rare First-Class Wisteria brown and gilt egg cup
Marked 3/12. Very minor chips to glaze.
Estimate: £500 – £800

Auction alert: 20th Century Art & Design at Stouts Hill House

Large Batman stage prop, 'Ka-pow'

This week, we’re drawing your attention to the 20th Century Art & Design at Stouts Hill House, Uley sale. It will take place at Wotton Auction Rooms, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, just north of Bristol. 230 lots will be going under the hammer on Saturday 6th November, starting at 12pm.

There’s an interesting mix of stuff – vintage film and music posters, art glass, mid-century modern furniture, lighting and original artworks. There’s even a piece by Rosslyn Ruiz whose work we have admired and owned.

There’s an inclusive buyers’ premium of 21.6% which is payable by all buyers, whether in the room, bidding by phone or leaving commission bids on the book. An additional premium of 3.6% + VAT of the hammer price is payable on all lots purchased via on-line bidding on the Wotton Auction Rooms website. However, if you choose to bid via the EasyLiveAuction site, there’s a £3.00 flat fee to bid.

They don’t currently offer any in-house P&P, so you’ll have to organise your own courier service for delivery.

Jamie Reid: 'Good Save The Queen - Never Trust a Punk' poster

Lot 49: Jamie Reid (B.1947) – ‘God Save The Queen – Never Trust a Punk’, signed, limited 40/100 digital print
The Aquarium Gallery label verso, 50 x 65cm, framed
Estimate: £300 – £500

Large Batman stage prop, 'Ka-pow'

Lot 102: Large Batman stage prop
Inscribed ‘Ka-pow’, 120 x 120cm
Estimate: £150 – £200

Greetings From Andy Warhol Christmas at Tiffany's book

Lot 106: A Greetings From Andy Warhol Christmas at Tiffany’s Book
In original binding, together with a further Drawings by Andy Warhol Colouring Book (2)
Estimate: £60 – £100

Anthony Burrill: 'Work Hard & Be Nice To People' poster

 

Lot 116: Anthony Burrill (20th/21st century) – ‘Work Hard & Be Nice To People’
Signed, black print on coloured paper, 77 x 51cm, unframed
Estimate: £60 – £100

Yellow Prinz Sound stereo module spherical radio

Lot 151: Prinz Sound stereo module spherical radio
In yellow colourway, 32cm high
Estimate: £50 – £80

Set of four Ercol light elm staking chairs

Lot 187: Set of four Ercol light elm staking chairs
77 cm high x 40 cm wide (af)
Estimate: £200 – £400

Plywood and wrought iron post office sorting tray

Lot 200: Vintage industrial plywood and wrought iron post office sorting tray
Raised upon original hairpin type supports, 59cm high x 51cm wide and 50cm deep
Estimate: £50 – £80

Ib Kofod Larsen for G-Plan daybed

Lot 215: Ib Kofod Larsen for G-Plan
Teak framed day bed with green upholstery and swept arms, 205cm long
Estimate: £800 – £1,000

Designer Desire: Bruno Munari

Montage of Bruno Munari designs

Bruno Munari (1907-1998) is probably as close as you’d get to an all-encompassing creative. Born in Milan, he was a graphic designer, industrial & product designer, children’s toy designer, painter, sculptor, film-maker, book illustrator & author and educator.

In the 30s & 40s, he worked as art director on Tempo Magazine, Grazia and for a short while, Domus. He also later became a consultant on the fledgling Epoca Magazine. In 1948, he was one of the founder members of Movimento Arte Concreta (MAC), the Italian concrete art movement.

He designed for many of the top Italian design houses including Danese Milano, Olivetti, Pirelli, Robots and Zanotta. For Danese, he created the iconic Falkland suspension lamp and Cubo ashtray (both shown in the montage above). For Zanotta, he created the whimsical Singer chair – described by the company as a, “Chair for very brief visits”.

There are many books by and about Munari available on Abe Books and Amazon.

Art shall not be separated from life: things that are good to look at, and bad to be used, should not exist. Bruno Munari, 1966

Portrait of Bruno Munaricredit

Additional image credits:
1stDibs | Pamono