Many people have silver tucked away in cabinets at home, kept for special occasions but rarely used, writes Charles Hanson.
For that reason, we see some spectacular silver at Hansons and demand is rising, especially for Eastern silver.
That’s because wealthy Chinese and Indian people are keen to buy back their heritage, a fact which is increasing auction prices.
One person keeping a close eye on this is TV’s Kate Bliss, a popular jewellery and silver consultant for Hansons. She will be with us at our saleroom in Heage Lane, Etwall, on Thursday (July 5), from 10am-4pm, offering free valuations in her specialist field. Do come and see her – the more the merrier.
Eastern silver soars to success
In a recent Hansons’ sale, Kate noted that an Indian silver, heavily embossed three-piece tea set, purchased in 1946 by the vendor’s parents, sold for £520.
Also with Indian influence, an Anglo-Indian white metal eight-piece egg cup stand on a tripod base and inset with coral sparked a fierce bidding battle, selling for £1,700.
Period silver was also in vogue with a pair of Neo-Classical style Victorian candlesticks by Walter Latham and Son, Sheffield, 1900, selling at £390. Meanwhile a William IV silver ink stand, in the Rococo style, heavily cast in relief with acanthus and C scroll borders, and with chamberstick and cut glass, silver-topped ink wells, sold for £720.
Jewellery highlights included a Georgian rose cut diamond and amethyst ring inscribed ‘Hannah Handley, July 1740, Oct 66’, offered together with an 18ct gold triple-diamond ring, which sold for £1,200. Plus, a Victorian garnet and diamond dagger brooch made £330.
But it’s not just antique jewellery that gets bidders excited. A contemporary pink sapphire and 18ct gold flat link snake necklace saw the gavel fall at £520.
Solid silver can be worth thousands
Back to silver, our current Fine Art sale featured a five-piece solid silver tea set including teapot, burner stand and tray, which came in at one of our free valuation days. We offer free silver and jewellery valuations every Tuesday at our Etwall HQ from 10am-4pm and, of course, on Thursday (July 5) Kate Bliss can offer that service too.
Such was the quality of this silver tea set, it was valued at between £3,000 and £5,000 – the owners were flabbergasted.
Library Auction, Luxury Handbags and Objects of Desire
The great finds keep coming and so do the auctions. Our Summer Fine Art sale continues today (July 2) with The Gentleman’s Library Auction, from 10.30am. It includes 20 original century-old Midland Railway posters which are as amazing as they are huge. If you’re a train enthusiast – and Derby has plenty – do take a look at our online catalogue.
The fun draws to a close tomorrow (July 3) with our Luxury Handbags and Objects of Desire Auction – a first for Hansons. The sale starts at 6.30pm but viewing is from 11am and you can join us for drinks and nibbles from 5pm. To find out more, email [email protected], visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or call 01283 733988.
