March began with the sale of £45,000 worth of antique German toy trains. And at the first sale of this month – held on Friday, April 1 – enthusiasm for playthings showed no sign of abating.

A boxed Horny O gauge train set, No 101 Passenger set, in Great Western Livery sold for £360, earning it a place in the top 10 lot prices of the day.

 

Not far off was a collection of four Tri-Ang Minic clockwork toy vehicles, including a London Transport double decker bus, dumper truck and two delivery vehicles, which achieved £380.

 

And a second collection of nine boxed similar Tri-Ang toys, including a fire engine, traffic control car, petrol tank lorry, steam roller and dust cart, also achieved £380.

 

It was in the furniture section, however, that the highest lot price of the day was achieved – £980 for an early 20th century painted and gilt framed three piece salon suite in the Louis XV taste. 

 

In the jewellery section an 18 carat white gold dress ring as a ribbon bow with five brilliant cut diamonds to each shoulder made £900.

 

And as royal wedding fever continues to grip imaginations – especially the the Royal Triangle around the Cotswolds – an out-of-the-ordinary item of memorabilia  prompted much interest among bidders.

 

A limited edition boxed collection of 25 silver ingots, circa 1976, each depicting a different scene from the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, made £360.

 

The lot also included a letter certifying that the dies had been destroyed in 1981, a Danbury Mint silver ingot, 1st day cover and commemorative coin commemorating the 1976 Bicentenary of America's declaration of independence from Great Britain, and a pair of oval silver ingots commemorating the 1977 Silver Jubilee. 

 

The next sale will be held on Friday, April 15 from 10am. For more information about buying and selling at auction log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk/furniturefinearts