Why should an auction house be partnering with an estate agency? Well, moving house is one of the times that all one’s possessions come up for review. Another is the sad time of losing a loved one and starting the often-difficult job of clearing a house for sale.
Whether it’s for Probate, downsizing, raising a few extra funds - or just the feeling that it’s time someone else loved a particular item – the Canterbury Auction Galleries can be a friend indeed.
There are many ways to sell unwanted items of course but really nothing comes close to a long-established, reputable and trusted auction house like ours.
Every item will be vetted by our team of specialists so you can be sure that nothing precious slips through the net. And we reach a vast audience for your items: each of our six auctions a year, spanning 2-3 days, reaches a huge pool of potential buyers and interested collectors from across the world. Around 6,000 people worldwide register for our sales.
The Canterbury Auction Galleries has been long established, achieving prices and attracting quality to rival the most famous of London auction houses – we often make the news with the items we sell and the prices we achieve.
Our friendly team of specialists has an excellent track record in valuing and selling a full range of antiques and collectibles, from fine arts and furniture to dazzling jewellery and 20th Century design, and from militaria to Chinese art. Even modern-day collectibles, that are rising in value rapidly and appeal to the next generation - most recently we sold a collection of Barbie dolls and Pokemon cards and the results were pleasantly surprising.
So if you’re considering downsizing, why not book to come along to a valuation session in our beautiful, historic building in Canterbury? Recognized by the Law Society, we also offer valuations at your home - our probate visits are well-known to be sensitive and professional at what is usually a difficult time. We are proud of our international reputation and expertise and our good name is everything to us - we’ll take excellent care of you and your treasured possessions.
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Oct 2024 post-sale report
The October sale at the Canterbury Auction Galleries went with a bang – almost literally. One of the star lots was this rare, unusual, large-scale reproduction of a six-pounder cannon which sold over estimate for £4,200. The cast bronze barrel was around 15ins long and it was all mounted on an oak gun carriage with steel bound wheels. It came with ammunition and seats on top of ammunition chests, fitted with miniature tools, all contained in a custom-made oak and glass cabinet.
SILVER
Silver shone bright in the sale. A Tibetan silvery gilt metal ewer and cover, chased and embossed with bats and clouds, soared over its estimate to fetch £4,600.
And a silver Edward VII monteith, by Edward Barnard & Sons, London 1903, sold at a healthy £4,300. What is a monteith? It’s a type of bowl originally used to cool glasses. They have a scalloped rim with notches onto which to hook the glasses so they don’t bump into each other. The name comes from a Scottish man called "Monsieur Monteigh" who wore a cloak with a similar notched pattern. Your next pub quiz – sorted!
And in a more contemporary style, a groovy Italian plated double wine cooler, by Gucci, in its original box sold for £560, to add glamour to someone’s Christmas drinks table.
ORIENTAL
Chinese treasures also sold well, as ever. An unusual Chinese bronze censer and cover, 18th century, the cover cast with kylin finial and dragons doubled its estimate to bring the hammer down at £4,900. And a blue and white porcelain jar, in the Kangxi manner on a pierced hardwood stand sold for £2.800.
ART
Many items from a collection of around 50 works by the king of poster art, A E Halliwell (1905-1987) sold well. He created scores of iconic Cubist-inspired posters from the Twenties to the Forties for clients like the London Underground, London Zoo and the Dig for Victory campaigns. This signed pencil and gouache poster for Olympia’s The Royal Tournament sold for £760. And five signed pencil and gouache Miniature Poster Designs - advertising for Shell and British Petroleum, circa 1930 - sold for £500.
Still on art, this abstract, ‘Klabluma’, 1947, was selected for a retrospective of influential and original Scottish artist William Johnstone (1897-1981). He started life as a farmer but moved to study art, winning a Carnegie scholarship in 1925. It sold for £2,300.
CERAMICS
20th century modern ceramics are becoming more and more sought after. A ceramic fish dish by William Newland (1919-1998) with a fish skeleton pattern, signed and dated 1952, sold for £400.
Sally Tuffin (born1938) is a fashion designer and ceramicist and one half of ‘Foale and Tuffin’ the pioneering fashion label that was part of the Swinging Sixties ‘youthquake’ movement. Her big, signed, sunflower vase fetched £300.
And a set of three graduated Carlton ware Guinness toucans £160. Always fun – and good for you, apparently.
JEWELS
Jewellery from famous German designers Wellendorff always attracts attention and this 18ct three-coloured gold flat necklace and bracelet was no exception, reaching £2,600.
And an 18ct Gold Diamond and Emerald Three stone Ring, set with a centre faceted emerald, of approximately .50ct, flanked by two brilliant cut white diamonds, sold for a rightful £2,200.
A very contemporary and collectible Danish silver necklace, by Hans Hansen reached a hammer price of £320. These cool designer pieces are very sought-after by modern gals.
NOTES
Next sale is our pre-Christmas auction on November 29-30, so save your pennies for some really imaginative gifts. See www.thecanterburyauctiongalleries.com, where you can register to bid on the online-only auction, find out more information and sign up for future email alerts. Remember - Register to bid first at www.thecanterburyauctiongalleries.com. Bid at www.thegalleries.live, the saleroom’s own FREE to use in-house bidding platform - or via thesaleroom.com. For further information or photographs please reply or ring 01227 763337. Or email general@tcag.co.uk.
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