Leading Regional Auctioneers for 6th Consecutive Year

24th January 2015

For the 6^th consecutive year Salisbury-based Woolley and Wallis fine art auctioneers have been named as the highest grossing regional saleroom in the U.K.  Their turnover in 2014 was £20,200,000 and the top lot was a single natural pearl that sold for £811,600.  This was the highest price posted in the UK regions.

Of the top twelve lots Woolley & Wallis sold for over £100,000 in 2014, six were in jewellery and five in Asian Art.  A £244,000 oil by Munnings completed the dozen.

The chairman Paul Viney commented “I am delighted that 2014 has been another successful year.  The combination of a wonderful loyal client base combined with a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team of specialists backed up by first rate administrative staff means that we are frequently able to compete head to head with the London salerooms as well as our local competitors.  Asian Art and Jewellery remain the most buoyant sectors of the market with, as ever, quality, rarity and condition being the critical factors”.

The top ten lots of 2014

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

A single natural pearl, 33.15cts      A pair of Chinese Yongsheng wine cups, c.1730      A Kashmir two stone sapphire ring      An 18th century Chinese Imperial copper-red and blue bottle vase      A Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring, 9.68cts      Sir Alfred Munnings - an oil painting of a huntsman and hounds, 52 x 57cm      A pair of Cartier natural pearl and diamond drop earrings      A natural pearl and diamond necklace      A Chinese Imperial celadon jade seal, c.1800      A pair of antique natural pearl drop earrings

£811,600 £453,840 £366,000 £341,600 £256,200 £244,000 £219,600 £195,200 £160,000 £140,300