Sale:
FS17 (29 Jan 2013)
Auction Lot:
0319
Estimate:
£3,000-£4,000
Realised:
£4,400
A diamond mounted single stone ring with round old brilliant cut diamond approximately 9.8mm x 5.1mm estimated to weigh 3cts in a curtain claw setting between diamond three stone shoulders.
Sale:
FS12 (19 Oct 2011)
Auction Lot:
0185
Estimate:
£5,000-£7,000
Realised:
£4,500
An 18ct gold presentation snuff box, inscribed 'The Cumberland Coal Association ...', Maker Edward Smith, Birmingham 1862, 177 gms.
Sale:
FS18 (24 Apr 2013)
Auction Lot:
0686
Estimate:
£4,000-£6,000
Realised:
£6,700
A Chinese hardstone-inlaid lacquer and hardwood screen and stand the black lacquer rectangular panel inlaid with a double gourd vase, a peach spray, a duck, two hanging plaques and a ...
Furniture Trends
A Louis Vuitton trunk (number 502780) sold for £2,300 at auction.
In an era where much is currently made of the decline in prices for 'brown furniture',
the British have yet again succeeded in what they do terribly well – that of talking
things down. And yet it is not all doom and gloom – indeed far from it. There is
strong demand for good English furniture from the 17th to the 20th Centuries. A
good example of this was a George III mahogany serpentine fronted serving table
measuring 8ft long which sold for £21,000 against a £6,000 - £8,000 estimate.
Whilst you can readily buy a good Georgian or Victorian chest of drawers at auction
for a few hundred pounds, the storage provided by a Louis Vuitton trunk will cost
rather more. Two examples of Louis Vuitton trunks were sold by Bearnes Hampton &
Littlewood recently. A leather bound rectangular trunk number 502780 measuring 3ft
8in long sold for £2,300, whilst a Louis Vuitton canvas and batten rectangular trunk
of a similar size sold for £15,000 against a pre-sale estimate of £500-£700.
Desks have also provided an interesting comparison. A standard mahogany pedestal
desk can be bought for around £400-£600. A particularly good example of an early
19th Century partners pedestal desk was sold in our January fine art sale for £3,100.
Compare that with an oak kneehole desk made in the 20th Century by Heal and Son
Ltd, which sold for £1,800.
A further example of the trend towards the 20th Century is provided with an oak
octagonal occasional table by Robert Thompson of Kilburn, also known as 'Mouseman'
Thompson because of the distinctive mouse carved on each piece of furniture. This
table was hotly competed for the saleroom achieving a final price of £1,250 against
a £500-£700 estimate.
Contrast that against a George III mahogany circular occasional table; examples
of which can be brought for two or three hundred pounds. For those who prefer a
rather more unusual occasional table, examples of which can be bought for two or
three hundred pounds. For those who prefer a rather more unusual occasional table,
an Anglo Indian teak table modelled as a camel supporting a brass tray recently
sold for £3,400.
The trend towards the 20th Century continues, but good middle range Georgian and
Victorian furniture is very affordable and its time will come again, proving to
be an excellent investment for those who have the sense to buy it now.
- Louis Vuitton
- English Furniture
- George III Furniture
- Robert Thompson
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About the Author
 | Christopher Hampton
Furniture
Valuations
Christopher Hampton is the Managing Director of Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood. He is also Head of the Furniture Department and an active member of the Valuations Department. Christopher Hampton, a second generation auctioneer and son of Peter Hampton, was born and educated in the Isle of Wight. Christopher Hampton joined local auctioneers Way Riddett in 1974, where he worked in the salerooms in Ryde for seven years before joining Phillips Auctioneers in London. He worked in the furniture department under head of department and mentor, Michael Cowley, until moving to Devon in 1984 to run the Phillips saleroom in Exeter. In 1989 he became Regional Director for Phillips operations in Devon and Cornwall until 1999 when the company was sold. He founded Hampton & Littlewood with Rachel Littlewood in 2001 and has enjoyed the transition from being a part of an international auction house to being a part of a local one. In his spare time he enjoys running and gardening.
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Furniture Trends was written on Monday, 12th March 2012.