The call of old England proved irresistible to bidders as far away as Thailand when the contents of a Lincolnshire rectory went to auction.
Such was the demand for items from The Old Rectory, a property hidden away in a valley in the Lincolnshire Wolds, even a set of old oil cans surged to 12 times their £50-£100 estimate to reach a hammer price of £1,200.
The entire contents of the property, 166 lots in total, were offered by Hansons Auctioneers on May 21 – everything from a baby grand piano to Victorian period inquisition documents, circa 1845. Around 600 bidders, mainly from the UK but some worldwide, battled to own items from the Lincolnshire home.
However, the biggest surprise was lot 161, the set of 10 vintage oil cans in all shapes and sizes, some emblazoned with trade names such as Shell and Texaco. The total paid, with buyer’s premium, by a private UK purchaser was £1,660.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “Retro and vintage items with the patina of age are increasingly desirable as buyers yearn for yesteryear, a gentle reminder of days gone by. Nostalgia drives bidding in many auction sectors.
“I think the success of this sale was down to the provenance of the property and the call of old England. Bidders liked the fact that items were part of the life and times of The Old Rectory. They were enthralled by an eclectic mix of antiques and collectables which reflected the lives and interests of a successful family over several generations.”
The auction, which achieved a sales total in excess of £26,000 and secured buyers for 86.1% of lots, included several objects which surpassed guide prices.
The top-selling item was lot 8, a Bechstein baby boudoir grand piano. This elegant showpiece in a lacquered mahogany case, retailed by Harrods, achieved £5,000.
Quality furniture was sought after and lot 133, a large oak Arts and Crafts period kitchen table, circa 1900, achieved £2,400 from a £500-£800 guide. In similar vein, lot 61, a triple pillar mahogany extending dining table, George III style, reached £1,050, smashing its £300-£500 estimate.
Still on furniture, lot 37, a Napoleon III boulle work and ormolu mounted meuble d’appui, circa 1860-70, sold for £660, nudging above its top estimate of £600. Boulle work is a type of rich marquetry process or inlay perfected by French cabinetmaker André Charles Boulle. It involves veneering furniture with tortoiseshell inlaid primarily with brass and pewter in elaborate designs often incorporating arabesques.
Another item to excel was lot 79, an Edwardian oak, four-section bookcase cabinet inscribed ‘Kingfisher Ltd, West Bromwich, Staffs’. It was contested to £580 from a £100-£150 guide. A fireside companion warmed up bidders’ hearts, too. Lot 39, a brass and red leather upholstered club fender made £660 from a £250-£350 estimate.
Away from furniture, lot 127, a Plan of The Old and New Town of Edinburgh and Leith with Proposed Docks, 1804, made £850 – more than double its £200-£400 guide. Meanwhile, lot 138, a large collection of books relating to automobiles and motorcycles made £640 and lot 25, a Spode porcelain Sheffield pattern R568-P dinner service, soared to £600, quadruple its £100-£150 estimate.
Hansons Auctioneers offers a broad range of specialist and general sales, free valuations, house clearance and downsizing services. To find out more, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
