One man’s lifetime collection of marbles, penny toys and quirky collectibles sparked ‘bonkers bids’ in one of the most incredible collectors’ auctions ever witnessed.
Over 50 years award-winning British toy designer Patrick Rylands, 81, bought thousands of objects he liked – and the world adored them too. Some 456 bidders from every corner of the globe – including 29 phone bidders, a record for Hansons Auctioneers – battled over 425 antique toys, Victorian marbles and rare automata. They were offered in Part IV of the Patrick Rylands’ Collection, one of the most phenomenal sales ever witnessed by the Derbyshire saleroom.
Due to the sheer volume of lots the collection had to be spilt into separate auctions, all of which have excelled. But Part VI surpassed them all. Despite phenomenal pre-sale interest, Hansons was blown away by the results. The premium-inclusive total achieved was £252,000. Hansons described it as a ‘spectacular auction party’. Bidders were attracted due to the scarcity of the items, many spotted years ago in London’s Portobello Road and Brick Lane markets.
A Victorian marble collection hammered at £56,000, tinplate penny toys sold for hundreds, some reaching nearly £2,000 each, and some 64 automata, many be renowned maker Paul Spooner, achieved £74,000.
The top-selling item was lot 291, a 1999 Paul Spooner and Matt Smith Fourteen Balls Toy Co. automaton entitled ‘Anubis, Lord of the Mummy Wrappings’. It reached £10,000 from a £600-£800 guide. Also in demand was lot 243, a one-off Paul Spooner automaton called ‘A Zen Garden’ which achieved £5,800.
But the Victorian marbles provided some of the biggest surprises. Though thought to be one of the best collections in the UK, jaws still dropped when lot 226, a set of 30 Victorian marbles hammered at £7,000 from a £60-£80 guide – around 90 times the estimate. In similar vein lot 229, a set of 60 Victorian marbles made £6,200 from a £70-£100 guide and lot 230, a mix of Victorian and later marbles, made £4,400. Other grouped marble lots reached £4,000 and lot 196, a single Victorian onionskin with mica marble made £850.
Early 20th century tinplate penny toys dating back to the First World War era also proved irresistible. A circa 1914-20 motorcycle made in Germany by Kellermann hammered at £1,700 from £100-£150 guide and lot 20, a lithographed tinplate penny toy racing car made in Germany, possibly by Meier, reached £1,600, smashing its £70-£100 estimate.
German-made antique toys were in hot demand. Lot 108, a circa 1910-20 collection of three German tinplate penny toys – running man, jester and boy playing a bugle – achieved £1,250 (£70-100 estimate). And the hammer fell at £1,500 for lot 111, a circa 1910 lithographed tinplate penny toy Ferris Wheel made in Germany by Meier. The same price was achieved for lot 152, a circa 1860 wooden and gesso galloping horse with rider, possibly German.
Sale manager David Wilson-Turner said: “This collection has been a complete joy to handle. It has offered objects that have not been seen at auction for many years. It was a collection like no other, and we have been privileged to handle every single lot. My personal favourite was a wonderful, boxed example of two footballers by Wüco (Lot 172). This was one of many lots that smashed their guide price, realising £1,000. Now we’re looking forward to Part 5 of the Patrick Rylands’ Collection on October 2.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “I have never witnessed anything like this in more than 20 years as an auctioneer. It was an unbelievably brilliant and bonkers sale, a spectacular online auction party for collectors from all corners of the globe – Asia, America and Europe. In the world of collecting this truly demonstrates that when rare items amassed by a gifted collector come to auction the sky’s the limit. It warmed my heart to see these rare and quirky items do so well, toys and novelties designed to bring joy to people.
“We expected strong results due to the unprecedented number of phone bidders and pre-sale interest. Most items met low estimate targets before auction day. We also knew Patrick’s taste in collectibles was in demand as estimates were smashed in previous auctions of his items. Nevertheless, we were still stunned by the results. This latest sale (Aug 29) exceeded all expectations and I am absolutely delighted for Patrick. It celebrates his knowledge, eye for the unusual and designer expertise.
“He created some of the UK’s best loved toys and some of his purchasers were inspired by his interest in toy design. He dislikes being described as a ‘passionate’ collector. He said he had an ‘interest’ and if there was any skill involved it was in having an eye for a specific item and then learning more about it through research and relationships with dealers. He claims to have no favourites. He bought things because he liked them.
“Whatever spurred him on, family members have great stories of visiting him and being transported into a kind of Aladdin’s cave, a treasure trove from which he would bring item after item to show them, to their great delight, and his.”
Patrick, who was born in Hull, East Yorkshire, but later moved to London, said: “I started collecting when I was 20, probably even a little before that. I suppose I started collecting toys because I was making them for a living but my collection covers many areas. I don’t have any favourites. I liked all the things I collected – that’s why I bought them!
“My method of sourcing them was at first solely based on where to find them cheaply. That led to regular visits to London’s Portobello Road, which was close to where I lived, and early morning visits to Brick Lane markets. I built relationships with specific dealers including an American marble dealer. He used to come to my home carrying marbles in a handgun case for protection.
“The phase of my life when I was a designer and a collector is now over and I have moved into the next phase where the focus needs to be on care and comfort. Nevertheless, I have kept a handful of items so maybe I have some favourites after all.”
Toys designed by Patrick are displayed in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood. In 1966, aged only 23, he invented Playplax, a colourful interlocking construction toy. It has sold over a million copies worldwide. At 27, he became the youngest designer to win the Duke of Edinburgh’s Prize for Elegant Design.
After graduating in ceramics from the Royal College of Art in London in 1966 Patrick worked as a freelance designer for iconic toy companies including Creative Playthings, Naef and Ambi Toys, where he worked exclusively as in-house designer for more than 25 years. He created more than 130 popular toddler and baby toys, known for their simplicity of design combined with movement, sound and primary colours. In 1999 he was elected the title of Royal Designer for Industry.
Auction: The Patrick Rylands’ Collection Part IV: Toys, Marbles and Automata was held on August 29 at Hansons Auctioneers, Derbyshire. Part V will follow on October 2, 2024.
Premium-inclusive auction results
The Patrick Rylands Collection Part I: Curios and Connoisseur Ceramics:
Hammer Total £71,152.55
Top Selling Lots:
Lot 194: A 24 and a half inch Mikado Polyphon, Style 54, German, circa 1900. – Hammer Price £6,831
Lot 197: A Staffordshire Wedgwood creamware teapot and cover, painted in bright enamels with the ‘Chintz’ pattern by David Rhodes. Circa 1770. Size 15.5cm high. – Hammer Price £3,795
Lot 211: An 18th century Agate teapot and cover, with a blue and brown wash, Circa 1750. Size 11cm high – Hammer Price £2,530
The Patrick Rylands Collection Part II: Curios and Works of Art:
Hammer Total £61,878.74
Top Selling Lots:
Lot 85: A late 18th/early 19th century carved coquilla nut snuff box, carved as an elephant, small glass eyes and bone tusks, the hinged cover opening to show snuff compartment, approx. 4.8cm long. – Hammer Price £3,795
Lot 81: A late 18th/early 19th century carved coquilla nut snuff box, in the shape of a rabbit, glass bead eyes and hinged snuff compartment to top of body, approx. 6.8cm long. – Hammer Price £2,656.50
The Patrick Rylands Collection Part III: Iconic Design, Radios, Coins and Tokens:
Hammer Total £89,575.92
Top Selling Lots:
Lot 135: A Pierre Giraudon 1960s vintage lucite pop art rectangular shaped kinetic sculpture with mechanism to centre, approx. 10.5cm high x 7.8cm wide. Together with six novelty cube shaped lucite pop art sculptures, two with ball centres, various colourways, four approx. 7cm high x 7cm wide, smaller approx. 6cm high x 5.8cm wide. (7) Hammer Price £4,048
Lot 175: Motorola S Grill catalin radio, model 51 x 15 in black and red case with retracting carry handle, 1941. Hammer Price £2,403.50
The Patrick Rylands Collection Part IV: Penny Toys, Marbles, Automata and Toys:
Hammer Total £252,025.95
Top Selling Lots:
Lot 291: Paul Spooner: A Paul Spooner and Matt Smith, Fourteen Balls Toy Co. automaton, ‘Anubis, Lord of the Mummy Wrappings’. Made in 1999 – Hammer Price £12,650
Lot 226: A collection of thirty various multi-coloured rare type Victorian marbles, in a variety of colours, measuring approx. 13mm to 25mm. Mostly in good order, although some slight scratching to surfaces. The marbles are contained on a 20th century solitaire board. Please assess photographs. (30) – Hammer Price £8,855
Sale manager: David Wilson-Turner | [email protected]
Privilege to handle collection
Karen Hockley-Hall, Hansons’ Head office General Manager, said: “Sale manager David Wilson-Turner’s successful toy sales led the client to our door, and David’s communications with the client to assess the collection and put in place plans to deal effectively with it have resulted in this incredible achievement.
“We are honoured the client chose Hansons to handle the sale of his treasures. It has been a joy for all the team to work together on this collection, a massive team effort encompassing research, cataloguing, photography, sales, packing and despatch to the lucky buyers. It has been a privilege to handle items nobody has seen before and are unlikely to see again. It has been the highlight of Hansons’ year.”
To discuss the sale of items or entire collections with Hansons Auctioneers, please call 01283 733988 or email: [email protected]
