Irish clock attracts bidders from the Emerald Isle

BIDDERS from the Emerald Isle clamoured to get their hands on a beautifully crafted Irish mahogany long case clock which came to auction at Moore Allen & Innocent’s Selected Antiques Sale in Cirencester on Friday (December 12).

Made by the renowned Dublin watch and clockmaker John Crosthwaite of Grafton Street during the reign of George III, the clock shares an illustrious heritage, as Crosthwaite was commissioned by the Church of Ireland to build clocks for parochial church towers. Examples of his work could also be found at the capital’s imposing Custom House.

Seven Irish bidders did battle by telephone, with the hammer falling at £4,200 – well in excess of the £1,500 to £2,000 estimate and achieving the highest price of the auction.

Surprise of the day was achieved by a silver vinaigrette dated 1843 and made by Taylor and Perry of Birmingham. The lid of the box – used to store smelling salts – was engraved with a picture of Cirencester Parish Church, and carried an estimate of between £400 and £600.

So there was obvious delight when the box was sold for £2,800 to a London buyer with an interest in the Cotswolds.

Also selling well above estimate was an attractive circa 1910 Russian silver gilt and champleve enamelled jug, which sold for £1,100 against an estimate of £300 to 350 after a Russian telephone bidder and a local buyer in the room waged war. The local buyer carried home the spoils.

Meanwhile, a mid 20th century Merrow Associates rosewood veneered chromed steel framed desk sold for £1,500 against an estimate of £500 to £800. At Moore Allen’s last Selected Sale back in September, a Merrow rosewood and chrome dining table also exceeded estimates, with the hammer falling at £1,600. So is Merrow a name to look out for in 2009? According to auctioneer Philip Allwood it’s too early to call. “Three is a trend, two might just be coincidence,” he nodded, sagely.

The next sales at Moore Allen & Innocent will be the antique and general sales on Friday, January 9 and Friday, January 23, while the ever-popular sporting sale returns on Friday, February 6.

A beautifully crafted Irish mahogany long case clock	An attractive circa 1910 Russian silver gilt and champleve enamelled jug
A mid 20th century Merrow Associates rosewood veneered chromed steel framed desk	A silver vinaigrette engraved with a picture of Cirencester Parish Church