Items bought in this auction MUST be collected from Burnaston Hall (DE65 6LF) by Weds 13 Jan. Collections will be available by appointment ONLY on Fri 8, Mon 11, Tues 12, Weds 13 (8am-5pm) & Sat 9 (8am-2pm) To book call: 01283 733 988 or email: [email protected]
A stampede of buyers from all over the world saw an auction of contents from a South Derbyshire period property exceed all expectations.
The everything-must-go-sale of more than 200 items from The Old Hall at Burnaston proved irresistible to bidders (Jan 6). No reserve prices were set and all lots started at £5 – including antiques from the 1700s.
Inevitably, prices soared in the online-only sale, which was organised by Hansons Auctioneers. It attracted more than 1,000 bidders from across the UK, Europe and America and every lot sold – because people want to buy into the rich history of Derbyshire, according to Hansons.
The Old Hall, a £1 million period property, was originally a half-timbered 17th Century manor house. It was rebuilt in the Victorian era to create a three-gabled front elevation. It stands resplendent in ample gardens awash with old-world charm.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons, said: “Derbyshire is a wonderful county with a rich history and when an opportunity comes along to purchase items from an impressive period property like this it sparks major interest.
“We expected an overall sales figure of around £10,000 for The Old Hall contents but achieved four times that. The final total surpassed £40,000 and Oriental objects proved to be particularly popular.
“The huge success of this auction is down to The Old Hall’s Derbyshire provenance. Americans and Canadians in particular love to own a piece of old England.
“The fact that the sale was done in situ with technical support from our Etwall saleroom also made it special. Selling items at a property was how auctions were done in Victorian times. The auctioneer would stand on a chair and guide people from room to room to view and bid on objects. Modern technology has enabled us to produce a modern version of this and make it accessible to an audience online.
“In addition, in these difficult days and time of lockdown, Hansons’ in-house postage department and online sales make it easy for people to buy at auction from anywhere in the world.”
The sale of contents included everything from sought-after antiques and artwork to a kitchen table, ride-on lawnmower, one-armed bandit, cutlery, Elvis Presley records, garden tools and ceramics.
But lots with Oriental pedigree proved to be the most desirable. The top-selling item was lot 164, a framed oil on board of a Chinese harbour scene plus a framed and glazed map of Southern India which reached £3,600.
In a similar vein, lot 140, a framed oil on canvas of an Oriental harbour scene was contested to £1,900 and lot 134, another Oriental painting, reached £1,050.
The desirability of Oriental items came to the fore again with lot 96, a brown glazed jardiniere decorated with a Chinese dragon, two Chinese teapots with metal mounts and a Chinese jar and cover which together made £800. Lot 130, a Chinese bronze Shang Dynasty temple figure, reached £750, and lot 165, a framed oil on canvas painting of a Chinese lady looking into a mirror sold for £640.
Antique furniture also did well with a George III elm dresser, circa 1780, reaching £1,550 and a George III joined oak settle, circa 1770, making £750.
A pre-decimal one armed bandit, ‘Brooklands’ ‘Mills Black Beauty’, in working order, along with a bag of 1d coins, hit the jackpot when it reached £1,000 while lot 32, a Victorian-style brass and cast iron framed king size bed made a comfortable £850.
The sale of contents from The Old Hall in Derbyshire was held on January 6. To find out more, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
