Review of June 2011 Maritime Auction in Exeter, Devon
Anton Schranz (1769 -1839). A panoramic view of Port Mahon, Minorca circa 1800.
Hammer Price: £50,000.
The June 2011 Maritime auction brought many people to the Exeter saleroom on the
day (15th June 2011), with a wide variety on offer for the specialist collector.
The main highlight of the day was generated by the oil on canvas of Mahon Harbour,
Menorca, by Anton Schranz (1769-1839). The topographically accurate view generated
a great deal of pre sale interest, with many recognising the view even after a change
of 200 years between the period naval ships of the 1800s and the modern cruise ships
seen today.
The telephone lines took on the bidding to exceed the upper estimate and continued
to surprise everyone up to £50,000. So much of a surprise, in fact, that the vendor
attending the sale had to sit down with the bidding at £30,000!
Anthony Amos (1950-2010). The Trawler Fleet oil on board, sold for £2,700.
Another surprise amongst the picture section was the interest in the works of Anthony
Amos (1950-2010). Working without brushes, utilising rags and his fingers, his works
are extremely popular in the Southwest. Many people visited Anthony Amos in his
gallery to see him paint, and this would seem to be the reason of his popularity.
Both the room and telephone bids were strong on the day to push the modest estimate
of £80-120 to an astounding £2,700.
Nelson memorabilia continues to be strong in the current market, especially period
pieces such as the Trafalgar engraved decanter. The copper wheel engraving of the
early 19th century almost doubled the upper estimate to reach £580.
The market for diving helmets and equipment also remains buoyant, with the Chilean
copper helmet and Siebe Gorman suit reaching above the upper estimate to sell in
the room for £1,700.
The precision engineering of early navigational and scientific instruments attracted
many with the quality of the pieces on offer in the sale. This was shown by the
fiercely contested Victorian pocket barometer, selling for £330 and the microscopes
in the sale at £800 and £1,500, both selling for double the upper estimate.
Once again by collating and collecting together marine and nautical themed antiques
for a specialist sale, Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood offer a wider range of services
and sales for our clients requirements. This in turn has yielded greater results
year on year and continues to be popular with both vendors and buyers.
Invitations to consign entries for the next Maritime sale are now open. For further
information about our next Maritime auction, please contact
Brian Goodison-Blanks
on (01404) 510000.
- Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
- Okehampton Street, Exeter, Devon
- Maritime
- Admiral Lord Nelson
- Battle of Trafalgar
- Diving Helmets
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