The Spiderman of Soft Furnishings strikes again

A DECADE ago auctioneer Philip Allwood earned himself the nickname 'the Spiderman of Soft Furnishings' in the antiques press after saving a pair of Howard & Sons armchairs from being tossed onto a farmyard fire.

And at last week's antiques and general sale at Moore Allen & Innocent in Cirencester, eight legs and the Howard & Sons name played a major part in Your Friendly Neighbourhood Auctioneer's life once again.

Two Victorian Howard armchairs exceeded their £300 to £500 estimates, to sell at £580 and £460 respectively.

Philip said: "They weren't the fashionable models, and they weren't in particularly fine condition, but people are still willing to bid good money for Howard & Sons armchairs."

The auctioneer advised anyone with Victorian soft furnishings to check the rear legs, casters and the underside of the seat for the Howard & Sons of London logo - especially if they are bound for the fire!

Howard & Sons were one of the foremost furniture manufacturers of the Victorian era. Their chairs, sofas and chaise longue were shown at several large exhibitions and even graced royal households.

Also off-trend, but extremely well made, was an early 20th century kingwood veneered and gilt mounted vitrine in the Louis XV taste, which sailed past its £300 to £500 estimate to make £2,100 - the top price of the day.

Still perhaps the buyer is simply thinking ahead of the market. Who would have guessed, for instance, that copper coppers - those big metal tubs used by Victorians for the washing of clothes - would be commanding prices in the hundreds of pounds and finding a new life as garden planters?

"A few weeks ago we sold a 4ft by 4ft one for £400. Now a 3ft by 3ft one has sold for the same amount, against a £200 to £300 estimate, yet a few years ago you couldn't get 50 quid for them," said Philip. "Now no Cotswold garden is complete without one."

To find out more about buying and selling at auction, find the Spiderman of Soft Furnishings in his web at www.mooreallen.co.uk  He swings back into action at the next sale, on Friday 2 July.

A Victorian copper copper
A pair of Howard & Sons armchairs	An early 20th century kingwood veneered and gilt mounted vitrine in the Louis XV taste