Spirit of Christmas flows through bidders

 

THE SPIRIT of Christmas flowed through bidders at Moore Allen & Innocent’s pre-Christmas auction in Cirencester on Friday, November 20, as the prices achieved by fine wines poured over their estimates.

 

Among the best was a single bottle of Chateau D'Yquem Sauternes 1957 which sold for £120, a case of Bordeaux Chateau Chasse-Spleen 1989, Cru Exceptionel which made £440 against a £300 to £400 estimate and a case of Chateau Lascombes Grand Cru Classe Margaux 1975 for Alexis Lichine & Co, each bottle numbered individually bearing label ‘Not for resale in the USA’, which made £360 against a £200 to £300 estimate.

 

Two cases of Chateau Cantanac Brown Margaux 1982 Grand Cru Classe, meanwhile, achieved £440 each against a £200 to £300 estimate and a case of Warre's Vintage Port 1977 made £440 against a £300 to £400 estimate.

 

“Once again wine and port have sold exceptionally well at our pre-Christmas sale. Connoisseurs who want to create some space in their cellars, or oenophiles who want to add to their collection, would do well to make a date in their 2010 diaries!” said auctioneer Philip Allwood.

 

Over in the toys section four tricycles from the 1950s and 1960s made between £18 and £45 each against estimates of £10 to £20 each.

 

Furniture continued to hold its price as buyers eschewed modern self-assembly jobs for traditional hand-crafted pieces.

 

The top price of the day was achieved by a late 18th century oak dresser with boarded plate rack, which made £1,200 – double its £500 to £700 estimate. Meanwhile a Victorian oak writing desk in the gothic revival taste, bearing a Gilberts of Swindon label and heavily decorated with grotesques masks, carved ionic pillars and scrolling acanthus leaf decoration, made £670 against a £300 to £500 estimate.

 

Finally, of significant local interest was a long case clock, made in Cirencester by Joseph Tanner sometime between 1840 and 1856. With its pretty cartouche of a chapel by a river, the clock struck a chime with two bidders, who pushed the £100 to £200 estimate to £360.

 

The final auction of the year is the Selected Antiques sale on Friday, December 11. For a full catalogue, log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk/furniturefinearts

 


A gothic revival desk A selection of wines
A Victorian oak writing desk in the gothic revival taste, bearing a Gilberts of Swindon label and heavily decorated with grotesques masks, carved ionic pillars and scrolling acanthus leaf decoration, which made £670 A small selection of some of the
fine wines on sale.
 A Cirencester clock, which achieved £360 A late 18th century dresser, which made £1,200
   A Cirencester clock, which achieved £360 A late 18th century dresser,
which made £1,200
A selection of four children’s tricycles from the 1950s and 1960s A selection of four children’s tricycles from the 1950s and 1960s
Four tricycles from the 1950s and 1960s, which made between £18 and £45
each against estimates of £10 to £20 each