Toy Story has a happy ending

HER eyes were described as ‘googley’ and her severed limbs lay beside her torso in a cardboard box. So unloved was the 90-year-old Armand Marseille doll that she and her friends carried a combined price tag of just £30 to £50.

But, like the heroine of a feel-good Christmas movie, the unloved doll was bought by a collector at Moore Allen & Innocent’s pre-Christmas sale for a whopping £700. Now, no doubt, there will be a very happy ending to this particular Toy Story.

There was equally good news at the Cirencester saleroom for a collection of Britain's painted soldiers and cavalry, including a four horse-drawn ambulance wagon, a train of six camels and various decorated soldiers. Carrying an estimate of £100 to £150, the hammer fell at £480 as toy collectors battled for victory.

Estimate-busting hammer prices weren’t confined to toys, either. Whilst High Street stores slashed prices by 20 or 30 percent to attract customers, antiques collectors and dealers were still willing to pay top dollar for unusual gift ideas.

An early 20th century brass cased lantern clock in the 17th century style, the domed frame housing bell above arched dial inscribed John Ferrers, London, the chapter ring set with Roman numerals and with eight day movement, sold for £640 against an estimate of £30 to £50.

Meanwhile, for the sports lover who has everything, a 19th century Aboriginal treen woomera – the hand-held device from which indigenous Australians would launch their hunting spears – achieved £360 against an estimate of £200 to £300.

And the wine and port section of the sale – which featured 350 bottles in 50 lots, including two double magnums of Taylors port, ten dozen bottles of Chablis of various vintages, both regular bottles and magnums, seven dozen bottles of Chateau Ormes de Pez Saint Estephe, three dozen bottles of Montagny Cru and a smattering of Moet et Chandon and Lanson Black Label – made over £5,500 in total.

The next Moore Allen & Innocent sale is the Selected Antiques Sale on Friday, December 12.

A circa 1920 Armand Marseille doll
	A small selection of bottles from the wine and port section of the sale
	A collection of Britain's painted soldiers and cavalry