Antiques for the garden go to auction

WITH a sunny summer forecast, children will be wanting to spend long days in the garden – and what better way to have fun than on this horse tricycle in the Victorian manner?

Bound for auction at Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester on Friday, July 3, the toy – in wrought iron and wood with leather saddle and tack and a horsehair tail – carries an estimate of £100 to £150.

And while the children are peddling themselves silly, parents and grandparents could be relaxing on a range of antique furniture. A wood and wrought iron bench with dog head motifs on the armrests carries an estimate of £300 to £500, as does a cast iron seat in white with unusual heart and diamond design around the back and seat.

Meanwhile, a 1950s swing seat on a rocker system in painted iron carries an estimate of £200 to £300 and a set of six modern garden seats in the Victorian style should achieve between £100 and £150.

For anyone who has more planting to do, two pairs of wrought iron plant trainers carry an estimate of £100 to £150 per pair, a set of three solid oak jardinières is valued at £100 to £200 and a Victorian sack truck and wheelbarrow, ideal for displaying plants on or as decoration in their own right, should fetch between £30 and £50 each.

Heading back indoors, a set of ten oak dining chairs, circa 1900, in the 17th century Carolean style would make a fine addition to any dining room. Carved in oak with griffin motifs they have red leatherette seats and carry an estimate of £300 to £500.

Finally, collectors of pottery and porcelain will be interested to learn of around 100 Beswick figures featuring characters from the world of Beatrix Potter that will be offered for sale with an average price of £10 to £20, although the early editions with the gold back stamp are expected to fetch up to £50 a piece.

A set of ten oak seats in the Carolean style	A small selection of around 100 Beswick Beatrix Potter figures
A horse tricycle in the Victorian manner	Some items from the large collection of garden furniture