A striking antique chest has sold for thousands of pounds at auction in Hertfordshire – five times its guide price.
The elegant Georgian-style mahogany commode chest in Louis XV fashion hammered at £7,200 at Hanson Ross in Royston. The total paid with buyer’s premium by a UK bidder was £9,446. It had been guided at £1,000-£1,500.
Amanda Butler, head of operations at Hanson Ross, said: “I came across it during a home visit and was immediately taken by it. This mahogany commode with its subtle curves and exuberant ornamentation was a beauty.
“It was in good condition and boasted silver gilt key and handles hallmarked Birmingham 1930 Elkington and Co. It was an outstanding piece of antique furniture. I was thrilled for our client when its estimate was smashed to smithereens. It deserved its place as the top-selling lot in the Hanson Ross November sale.
“Brown antique furniture has been out of fashion for a while but fine examples like this show it’s making a comeback. These pieces were built to last. They display outstanding workmanship and detail that’s a million miles away from today’s flatpack, throwaway furniture.”
The same auction saw a childhood collection of more than 200 Pokémon trading cards hammer at £3,600. They had languished in a Bedfordshire bedroom for more than 21 years.
Another lot to excel was an exotic Mughal reverse painting on glass of a princess holding a flower. Housed in a maple frame, the unusual artwork soared to £1,600 from a guide price of £200-£400.
Amanda said: “The painting came in at a valuation day held at Cherry Lane Antiques in Towcester, Northamptonshire. Results like this show how worthwhile it can be to have any unwanted objects valued.
“People are often surprised by our assessments. They’re even more amazed when their object delivers an unexpected windfall.”
All items sold in the November 17 Hanson Ross Antique Jewellery and Fine Art Auction. Entries are invited for the next Hansons Ross sale. Contact: [email protected].
Valuations: Free valuations are held at Hanson Ross, Unit 1 The Power House, Lumen Road, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 7AG, every Friday, 10am-1pm. To book a valuation visit www.hansonross.com
