Autumn 2010 Selected Fine Sale in Honiton

Published 2nd December 2010

An Ariel Square Four Motorcycle, which has sold
for £6,100 at auction.

An 18th century Bielby wine glass, formerly in the collection of Una Fraser, the mother of the Australian Prime Minister Michael Fraser, passed its upper estimate of £1,200 to finally achieve £1,450 and provided the first of many surprises during the sale.

Chinese ceramics have been brought to the attention of most people over the last few weeks and the popularity of Oriental ceramics shows no signs of slowing down. An early Kangxi period blue and white vase of square form attracted a great deal of pre sale interest that carried through to the sale day. Several bidders in the room fought against each other to push the price above the top estimate and bidding continued to the fall of the hammer at £3,000.

As well as many regular buyers to the saleroom it was encouraging to see that the range of items within the sale brought many people form outside the area and the county to the saleroom. An early 19th century Twigg's patent corkscrew might seem an unusual item to be included amongst a collection of Antique furniture and ceramics, but the strong bidding in the room from several collectors attending the sale took the eventual price to a staggering £2,100.

Among the many other highlights of the sale that also included several classic cars was a 1955 Ariel Square Four that had been stored in a garage for over 30 years. Many people passing the sale room had been surprised to see the motorcycle in the saleroom window. None more so than one of the bike's original owners from the 1960's who regularly used the machine to travel from the Westcountry to Birmingham. Finally selling for £6,100, the classic motorcycle market still continues to remain strong in the current climate.

Also sold were a set of four 19th century lead figures emblematic of the four seasons £3,600 and a 19th century white over painted bookcase in the Gothic taste for £4,600.

In addition to the regular Antiques and Collectors sales held every fortnight in Dowell Street, Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood will continue to hold Sales of Fine Art and Antiques, Antiquarian Books and Sporting and Collector's sales throughout 2011.

For further details about sales at Honiton, please contact Brian Goodison-Blanks on (01404) 510000.

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