IN some respects the best ever antique and general sale at Moore Allen & Innocent’s Cirencester salerooms – with the highest average lot price ever recorded at a general sale – saw an excellent start to the year for brown furniture.

Nineteenth and early 20th century items – tables, chairs, cupboards and wardrobes – are witnessing a revival following a few fallow years as modern light woods became fashionable. Dark wooden furniture accounted 24 of the top 25 prices achieved at the sale, on Friday, February 18.

The surprise of the day was reserved for a 19th century mahogany kneehole dressing table, the top with moulded edge above a single slim drawer flanked by two deeper drawers on square tapered legs, which was sold for £2,300 against an estimate of £200 to £300.

“It was a good clean Regency piece with straight lines,” said auctioneer Philip Allwood, “and a good indicator that sales of brown furniture are improving, having struggled in recent years.”

Meanwhile, a Victorian mahogany dining table with two extra leaves and moulded edge raised on turned and fluted legs sold for £800 against an estimate of £500 to £700.  A large rectangular carved gilt frame 19th century wall mirror made £900 against an estimate of £80 to £120.

The largest item in the sale – a mid-20th century four poster bed in the circa 1700 manner by the renowned furniture maker Heal & Son of London - sold for £680 against an estimate of £500 to £700.

Pottery also sold well, with the most striking example – a Royal Doulton porcelain tiger glazed in the ‘flambé’ style, giving the beast a shiny red coat instead of its usual yellow and black stripes - selling for £280 against an estimate of £150 to £200.

The next event at Moore Allen & Innocent’s Norcote salerooms is the ever-popular sale of sporting items on Friday, February 1. Items are now sought for the next antique and general sale, which will be held on Friday, February 15. For more information about buying or selling antiques look on this website or call 01285 646050.

A 19th century mahogany kneehole dressing table	A large rectangular carved gilt frame 19th century wall mirror