Indian Cup doubles top estimate
1st August 2011Silver and Collectors’ Items Sale, 19th & 20th July 2011
A two-handled Indian silver cup and cover dating from 1810 was the star lot of the recent two-day Silver sale. The cup, which went to auction with an estimate of £4,000-6,000, exceeded expectations by selling for £15,500. This was just one highlight of a highly successful sale which took a total of £561,600 over two days, against the background of a buoyant silver market.
The success of the Indian cup reflects the recent growth of interest amongst collectors in Indian silver. The piece was purchased by the vendor at Sotheby’s in 1991 for £2,100, representing a sevenfold increase in 20 years.
Another outstanding lot was a rare George III gold caddy spoon by Samuel Pemberton, circa 1805-10, from the John Norie Collection. This beautiful example in oval form, inset with a filigree panel, achieved £7,100 against a £2,000 upper estimate.
The range of styles and dates on offer at this 1,129 lot auction is reflected in the sale of a fine Arts and Crafts silver sugar caster, by Omar Ramsden, London 1937. In baluster form with spot-hammered decoration, with pierced leaf design on the cover and stylised iris leaves on the body, the piece achieved £4,700.
Day One of the sale included a strong section of coins and medals which totalled an impressive £47,000 and included Lot 222, a tiny Celtic Gold Stater, dating from the mid-late 1st Century BC, which sold for £700.
The sale, and business in the Silver department at Woolley and Wallis, has been boosted by the recent introduction of live online bidding to many of our auctions. Enquiries to the department via email have also doubled in the last two years, with requests for information coming in from around the world.
