Bidders from around the world battled to buy two chairs from the first ever Harry Potter film which sold for thousands at auction.
The atmospheric red velvet armchairs, which featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001, were contested to £5,800 at Hansons London sale at the Normansfield Theatre, Teddington. They eventually sold to an American buyer.
That figure surpassed the amount paid for a similar pair of Harry Potter chairs from the same vendor, which fetched £4,200 at Hansons London in March.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons London, said: “That final hammer price proves, yet again, the power and popularity of the Harry Potter films based on J K Rowling’s books.
“Our client sold one pair of Harry Potter chairs with us in March and was so pleased with the result he consigned a second set to our next auction.
“One of the chairs had only three legs, so perhaps Harry Potter waved his magic wand to help them soar to even greater heights.”
The London seller, who wished to remain anonymous, was delighted with the result. He said: “The chairs were used in Gryffindor’s common room. I purchased them some years ago from a major film set props company. Once you know what you are looking for, you can easily distinguish them in the film.”
Hansons London, which launched its first Normansfield Theatre auction in February and has an office in Bridge Road, Hampton Court Village, saw many other objects record impressive figures at its April 28 sale.
For example, a large 19th century Meissen Pagoda figural group with parrot (lot 101) sold for £3,100 and a Pablo Picasso black and maroon owl vase, circa 1952, sold for £3,000 (lot 98).
In addition, a Maori carved wood feather box and cover in canoe form, authenticated by William Fagg CMG, formerly keeper of ethnography at the British Museum, was contested to £3,000 (lot 338).
Ornamental objects were highly sought after with a fine quality Japanese Meiji period netsuke of a man carrying a monkey on the back of his shoulders reaching £2,900 (lot 74) and a finely painted silver mounted porcelain table snuff box, 18th century, probably Meissen, selling for £2,200. (lot 115A)
Another hotly contested item was a fine Faberge Russian guilloche enamel early 20th century vesta case which sold for £1,800 from an estimate of £300-£500.
Mr Hanson, who launched Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire in 2005 before expanding to the London area this year, said: “It’s early days at our new auction venue in Teddington but we have been hugely encouraged by the interest and support we have received from people in the area and across the capital.
“Our saleroom was packed with people keen to enjoy the spectacle of a live auction. I thrive on the passion, drama and excitement and it’s heart-warming to see so many people in the saleroom.
“We are also finding our friendly approach is winning new clients. We offer free valuations at our Hampton Court Village office and at the Normansfield Theatre every week as well as free home visits for private valuations, and we are seeing many high-quality items consigned.”
All items were sold on April 28 at Hansons London, The Normansfield Theatre, Langdon Down Centre, 2A Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS. Entries are now invited until May 19 for the next Hansons London auction on June 11.To find out more, call 020 8979 7954 or email [email protected].
Hansons London holds free valuations every Saturday at Teddington’s Normansfield Theatre from 9.30am-12.30pm. Free valuations are also available at Hansons London consignment office, 77 Bridge Road, Hampton Court Village, Middlesex, KT8 9HH, every Wednesday, 11am-3pm, and every Friday, 10am-4pm.
