RICHARD WINTERTON AUCTIONEERS, LICHFIELD A WWII imperial Japanese Samurai sword sold for £1,800 at the Staffordshire auctioneer’s sale on September 6.
With a 75cm blade, the tsuba – or hand guard – includes a family crest impressed to the crosspiece. The weapon came with a photocopied certificate from the Japanese police allowing a corporal LR Kirtland to return to the UK with the item as a trophy of war.
The sword was brought to the UK
in 1948
The George II partner’s desk, with 11 drawers on either side, went to a private bidder
FELLOWS AUCTIONEERS, BIRMINGHAM An unusual clutch bag designed to look like a cassette tape made £5,040 at the Midlands auctioneer’s recent sale – against a low estimate of £1,000.
Iconic Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld (1933-2019) introduced the bag at the designer’s 2004 show, describing the collection as “Sweet, but not too ladylike”. The lucite clutch’s case features black detailing and a silver-tone chain wristlet strap.
The unusual cassette-shaped clutch came with the maker’s box and papers
Proving tiaras are back in vogue, this stylish piece was the sale’s top seller
LAWRENCES, CREWKERNE A Victorian tiara, formed in nine sections, was the top seller at the Somerset auction house’s recent sale when it doubled expectations to hammer at £30,000.
Set with old-cut and rose-cut diamonds, the elegance of the design, in addition to its craftsmanship and quality, helped secure the high price.
At the same sale a gold necklace of rope design by H Hermès, expected to make £5,000, sold for £10,000 in the 450-lot auction.
Chunky gold necklaces also fared well in the saleroom
ROSEBERYS, LONDON Estimated to make £4,000-£6,000, a portrait of Miss Elizabeth Lewis by the renowned artist Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680) was one of the highlights of the auction house’s recent sale when it made £18,750.
Elizabeth was the daughter of London vintner, Sir Thomas Lewis. In the portrait, painted around 1677, the 20-year-old is depicted in finery to reflect her father’s wealth.
A George II partner’s desk made £11,875 against an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.
Sir Peter Lely’s portrait of Miss Elizabeth Lewis was the sale’s top seller
MALLAMS, CHELTENHAM A vase by Clarice Cliff (1899-1972) – one of the most influential ceramic artists of the 20th century – sold for £1,100, against a low estimate of £200, at the Gloucestershire auction house’s recent sale. Part of Cliff’s popular Fantasque range, the vase Autumn, shape 365, had printed marks to the base dating it to c. 1930.
Another estimate buster was a walnut and oak book table by the renowned 20th-century furniture designer Gordon
Clarice Cliff continues to delight bidders at auction
Russell (1892-1980). Expected to make
£300-£500, the table sold for £1,600.
The Gordon Russell book table smashed pre-sale expectations
ANTIQUE COLLECTING 11
