Sale of unique hallstand will benefit charity

THE sale of a unique hallstand, cobbled together from 17th century scraps, will help people living with serious illness and their families.

The oak hallstand, designed in the 17th century manner, would grace the entrance of any country cottage. It has been put together from parts of older pieces of furniture. The decorative panels seem to have come from a 17th century coffer, as grooves on the back are almost certainly candle box marks. It has pegs for coats and hats and a stand for umbrellas and sticks.

The piece, which carries an estimate of £100 to £150, is being sold commission-free on behalf of the charity Sue Ryder Care by Cotswold auctioneers Moore Allen & Innocent at their next sale, on Friday, March 20.

Staff at the Cirencester charity shop suspected the piece was of value when customers started expressing an interest before it had even been priced up, and auctioneer Philip Allwood was quickly called in to give his expert opinion.

Auctioneers are also selling without charge a 20th century pine dining table in the 18th century manner on behalf of the charity. The sturdy oval double gate legged table seats eight and carries an estimate of £300 to £500.

Keeping a sharp eye on bidders will be a 19th century figural lamp in the form of a night watchman. Complete with lamp and stick the stern-looking continental crime-buster is dressed in the fashion of the 1600s. A bid of £200 to £300 should secure his services.

Of particular local interest is a large collection of Cricklade pottery. The pottery business was established by Ivan and Kay Martin – both of whom tutored under the renowned potter Raymond Finch at Winchcombe Pottery ­– in 1951 and operated until 1976, the year after the Cricklade bypass opened and killed through-traffic trade. Ironically, the couple had marked the opening of the bypass with commemorative pots.

The large collection of slipware, including teapots, jugs, bowls and dishes, will be sold as two lots, each carrying an estimate of £50 to £80. Highly collectable, the decorative pottery is also usable.

Staying at the potter’s wheel, and proving that something doesn’t necessarily have to be old to warrant a spot at an antiques auction, a collection of brightly-patterned contemporary chargers from Poole Pottery cannot fail to catch the eye of bidders.

The collection, each of which measures around 40cms, includes Millennium, Implosion and Eclipse, each of which was produced in limited numbers in 1999 and has been signed by the artist. They carry an estimate of £100 to £150 each. A further five standard chargers – equally ornate – carry an estimate of £30 to £50 each.

Also ornately patterned is a late Victorian two-piece painted bedroom set. Decorated in the Japanese aesthetic taste that was so popular in the 1880s and 1890s, it is unusual to see surviving examples today, as many were painted or sanded as fashions changed.

The wardrobe, which stands at 7f tall, features a sweet pea motif and flower panels. The sweet pea motif is mirrored on the chest of drawers. At £150 to £200, this unusual antique set costs far less than its flat-packed contemporary equivalent.

Finally, the few remaining contemporary items from the residual contents of a 20-bedroom mansion will be sold, including table lamps, vases and linens. The auctioneers have been sworn to secrecy over the identity of the family whose possessions filled 39 containers, leading to much speculation from bidders when the first consignments were sold in January and February this year.

Part of a large collection of Cricklade pottery	Millennium, from a collection of brightly-patterned contemporary chargers from Poole Pottery
A late Victorian two-piece painted bedroom set,  decorated in the Japanese aesthetic taste	A 19th century figural lamp in the form of a night watchman