Our first Monthly Interiors auction of the year saw our new specialist calendar off to a fantastic start, with good prices achieved across a range of sections.
A collection to truly catch the imagination of our bidders, both in the room, via telephone bid, online and overseas was a stunning market-fresh collection of Japanese Meji Period works of art. Top sellers were two ivory and Shibayama table screens, dating to around 1900, signed and embellished with mother of pearl, tortoiseshell, coral and various hardstones. “As soon as I first glimpsed these wonderful pieces, my breath was taken away – the workmanship, detail and condition of these screens was truly astounding,” comments Liz Bailey, and her opinion was shared, with the table screens settling at £3,000 and £2,800 respectively.
A fine Meji Period Japanese ivory shibayama folding table screen, circa 1900. The exterior lacquered in black and gold with birds among blossom trees, unfolding to reveal the interior applied in hardstone coral and mother-of-pearl with cranes and swallows on a gold lacquered mountainous ground, signed, the ivory carved borders with silver embellished corners and hinges, signed, dimensions 28 x 30cm. Sold for £3,000.
A fine Meji Period Japanese ivory shibayama folding table screen, circa 1900. The exterior carved with pastoral scene on a mountainous ground, unfolding to reveal the interior applied in hardstone, mother of pearl, coral and tortoiseshell with peacocks and birds before a blossom tree with temple to the carved ivory background and dragon detailing, the ivory carved borders with silver embellished corners and hinges, signed, dimensions 30.5 x 30cm. Sold for £2,800.
Further highlights from this astounding collection included an ivory caved mask depicting Hannya. Hannya masks were used in Japanese theatre, said to represent a woman so scorned she assumes the form of a demon! Finely carved and intricately signed by the craftsman, this eye-catching piece sold for £600 against an estimate of £100-200. Another theatrical Noh mask, carved from ivory and set with mother of pearl eyes reached £380.
A Japanese Meiji Period carved ivory mask netsuke depicting Hannya, typically carved with bared teeth and horns, signed, dimensions 9x18cm. Sold for £600.
A Japanese Meiji Period carved ivory Noh mask, with mother-of-pearl eyes, unsigned, dimensions 11.2 x 16cm. Sold for £380.
Other Shibayama pieces to exceed estimate included a beautiful silver mounted shibayama vase, decorated with bird and blossom, which reached £550. A pair of shibayama vases depicting demons with mother of pearl and hardstone floral and fauna accents sold for £500.
A fine Japanese Meji Period ivory and Shibayama vase, decorated with bird and blossoms, and mounted with white metal base rim and twin handles, signed, height 12.5cm. Sold for £550.
A pair of Japanese Meji Period ivory and Shibayama vases, each carved to depict battle scenes with demons, flora and fauna, unsigned, height 11cm. Sold for £500.
Across the other sections, high prices were achieved with a full saleroom, active online bidding via both our Wilson Live and the-saleroom platforms. A plush William Yeoward ‘Kent’ sofa sold for £270, whilst six bright silver and enamel ashtrays dating to the 1920s and in immaculate condition achieved £260. Meanwhile, a large collection of iconic blue and white Wedgwood soared from its £40-60 estimate to reach £260. In our books section, an impressive collection of 'The Strand Magazine', published monthly between 1891 and 1950, including 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' sold to a local collector for £170.
A William Yeoward ‘Kent’ sofa. Sold for £270.
A set of six 1920s silver and enamel ashtrays, each of circular outline with vari-shade enamel guilloche decoration, import marks for Gourdel Vales & Co., London, 1922. Sold for £260.
A collection of Wedgwood Queensware to include teapots, cups and saucers, etc. Sold for £260.
A collection of thirty-two bound volumes of 'The Strand Magazine' many in their original bindings and featuring The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.Sold for £170.
Our next Monthly Interiors Auction will take place on Thursday 6th February. We are currently accepting consignments for this sale, with the closing date for entries on Wednesday 29th January. If you would like a free auction valuation of your items, do get in touch, or come along to one of our valuation days, taking place every Wednesday from 10am-12pm, 1pm-4pm, and Saturday mornings from 9:30am-12:00pm.