Maltese silver tops the lot
26th January 2023
An 18th century Maltese coffee pot has topped the January Silver auction after selling for £21,250.
The baluster pot (lot 86) was embossed with a shell and trellis design and attracted strong bidding from English and Continental buyers that saw its top estimate of £5,000 easily eclipsed.
Other 18th century objects also attracted attention, with a set of George III plates bearing the armorial of the 4th Earl of Bristol (lot 457) fetching £10,000; a George III memorial urn (lot 622) selling for £3,750; and a pair of entrée dishes and covers (lot 613) selling for £3,625. An unusual provincial container (possibly a flask containing glove powder) exceeded expectations to sell for £3,750 (lot 405), and a George I coffee pot (lot 455) fetched £2,125.
Among the small, collectable objects, highlights included an early 19th century silver gilt vinaigrette commemorating the life of Admiral Lord Nelson (lot 562) that sold for £6,875; a silver novelty flower vinaigrette (lot 581) that sold for £4,000; and a Charles I Royalty badge (lot 584) that fetched £3,750.
Of more individual interest was a hammered silver cup and saucer made by the getaway driver of the Great Train Robbery, Roy ‘The Weasel’ James (lot 553). Lesser known as a silversmith, James continued to practice his art after his conviction and the cup and saucer, together with a silver gilt bracelet, were made for a racing driver friend, David Brodie. The items were sold together with a small collection of tools and ephemera and fetched £560.
The two day auction concluded with a premium-inclusive total of £371,250 and a selling rate of 92%.
