Gramophone hits the right notes

AN unusual wood-horned gramophone hit all the right notes with bidders at a Cotswold auction last week, when it made the top price of the day.

The HMV Master Gramophone, retailed by Howlett & Sons of Norwich and Lowestoft in the early 1900s, achieved £920 against an estimate of £200 to £300 at the Moore Allen & Innocent sale in Cirencester on Friday, October 9.

The gramophone had a horn in oak, rather than brass, which, collectors say, creates a warmer, softer sound. It featured HMV’s famous mascot, Nipper the jack russell, listening to his master’s voice on both the base and the horn.

While the gramophone was undoubtedly the highest-achieving single lot of the day, a large collection of Copeland Spode china, sold over six lots, achieved a combined total of £2,140.

The blue and white china, with an Italian pattern, included tureens, platters, bowls, dinner plates, side plates, soup bowls and even a biscuit barrel… everything needed to throw a very grand dinner party.

Other good prices included a mahogany wardrobe by furniture makers Dovestone, Bird and Hull of Manchester.

The two-door wardrobe with base drawer – bearing the maker’s stamp - had its original cloth lining, clothes rail and hooks, and made £560 against an estimate of £200 to £300.

In the clocks section, a French brass carriage clock of local interest made £460. The white enamelled dial set with Arabic numerals was inscribed ‘Martin & Company, Cheltenham’. The clock was housed in a distinctive red Moroccan leather box.

Among the more unusual items was a working scale model of a naval 4.7 gun mounted on an oak base, which was sold for £400 against a £100 to £150 estimate, and a stroviol, a stringed instrument with a horn amplifier, as an alternative to a hollow body to magnify the sound, which sold for £50.

With 990 lots it was the busiest general sale of the year so far. The next general sales will be held on November 6 and 20. For more information about buying and selling at auction, log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk/furniturefinearts

An HMV Master Gramophone with wood horn	A mahogany wardrobe by furniture makers Dovestone, Bird and Hull of Manchester	A stroviol
A working scale model of a naval 4.7 gun mounted on an oak base	A selection of a large collection of Copeland Spode china
A French brass carriage clock inscribed ‘Martin & Company, Cheltenham’