The Derbyshire sale held from April 30-May 3comprised a vast array of over 2400 lots that incorporated several single-owner collections including contents from the Old Rectory in Rangemore, Staffordshire.
Sikh interest
Top of the list was some Oriental edged weaponry: a lot containing two swords, one of them described as a 19th century Indian talwar (a type of curved sabre used on the subcontinent) with a 2ft 7in (81cm) curved blade and two inscribed panels of verse. Offered with an estimate of just £60-100, the lot ended up selling for £44,000.
One trade specialist thought the the reason for the strong interest was that the inscriptions on the talwar included the signature of Ranjit Singh (1780-1839).
If this were the case the price is understandable given the growing interest in any items associated with the first maharajah of the Sikh Empire (famously known as The Lion of the Punjab), particularly among the Sikh community, and they can often make considerable sums at auction.
Back in 2018, for example, Bonhams sold a velvet and leather covered quiver thought to have been made for him, taking a premium-inclusive £100,000.
An exhibition devoted to Ranjit Singh currently on view at the Wallace Collection in London further affirms general rising interest in this Indian ruler.
Arts & Crafts stars
Arts & Crafts armchair shown front and reverse that realised £6000 at Bamfords.
Among the other very different sought-after items in this sale were several Arts & Crafts furnishings.
One of these was an armchair or hall chair. The cresting rail to the openwork back was carved with an owl and a moon while the reverse featured a row of openwork heart shapes set along the top of the seat, the type of Arts & Crafts decorative motif that would be consistent with its dating of c.1910.
That it was bid to a multi-estimate £6000 suggests an association with a particular designer/maker or Arts & Crafts school of the period, rather than a generic piece which would be more in line with the catalogue guide of £400-600.
Pair of oak credenzas or side cabinets, £4200 at Bamfords.
An even lower guide, £200-300, had been set on a pair of 4ft 8in (1.43m) wide oak credenzas or side cabinets that were catalogued as c.1900, their design variously incorporating elements of neo Gothic, Arts & Crafts and Aesthetic movement styles.
They had slightly projecting dentil carved tops and glazed panel doors to the centre and one side and three drawers set into a niche to the other.
An unusual feature was the blue and white scale patterned earthernware columns that divided each panel.
The credenzas ended up making £4200.
Oak mantel clock, £2000 at Bamfords.
A third piece was a 10in (26cm) high oak cased mantel clock dated to c.1901. No maker was given for the eight-day movement but its most distinctive and unusual feature was the 3½in (9cm) diameter dial enamelled in a swirl of orange and purple surrounded by a bezel carved with swallows in flight. Estimated at £60-100, this sold for £2000.
Bowl could be Limerick
Silver bowl thought to possibly be made in Limerick, £1900 at Bamfords.
A notable price came among the antique silverware for a small 5½in (14cm) diameter, 172gm bowl set on hoofed feet and chased to the body with a rabbit, dog and swan in a landscape and fruiting vine.
Silver bowl thought to possibly be made in Limerick with a detail of the marks, £1900 at Bamfords.
It was marked PW and IM overstruck and the auction house thought it could be an Irish provincial piece, possibly from Limerick.
As with British silver, Irish provincial marked pieces often carry a premium and this example sold for £1900.
