17/08/2024 General News
Last month saw the second of Keys’ Fine Sales of 2024, writes Tim Blyth. These thrice-yearly events really are the highlight of our auction calendar, bringing together the very best quality lots across three days in every category of item, from ceramics to jewellery, paintings to glassware, furniture to medals and militaria, books to silver.
The sale once again attracted bidders from all a round the world. In the saleroom itself we had one of the biggest crowds since the pandemic, boosted as ever by a very large number of online bidders, commission bids and telephone bidders.
With nearly 600 lots, it is impossible to examine the sheer variety of items which went under the hammer, but people are always interested in what the sale price actually was (as opposed to the sometimes inflated estimates which some unscrupulous auction houses set in a bid to attract business), so here is just a flavour of some of the highlights – all results indicated are hammer prices, exclusive of buyer’s premium.
Ceramics always play a big part in the Keys Fine Sale, and so it proved once again. A collection of eleven oriental jade pieces attracted brisk bidding, with many lots making multiples of their pre-sale estimates, including a carving of a dragon on a curved wooden base which sold for £1,600 (estimate £100-£150) and a late Qing Dynasty carving of two cats and a butterfly which sold for £1,500 (estimate £100-£150).
Classic English porcelain is performing strongly in the saleroom at the moment, as evidenced by a lot comprising a Royal Crown Derby Imari pattern tazza and two matching candlesticks, which sold for £1,460 (estimate £300-£400). And proving that even with less fashionable makers, the right pattern can attract buyers, a group of Clarice Cliff crocus wares sold for £460 (estimate £100-£150).
Vintage watches performed very strongly, with the star lot of the whole sale being a very rare Prisoner of War Rolex 3525 chronograph wristwatch which was purchased by Captain D Mackenzie while in captivity. The watch came with his medals, POW dog tags, and a whole host of documentation. This lot attracted considerable national media attention prior to the sale, with the result that it sold for £39,500, double its pre-sale estimate of £15,000-£20,000. Meanwhile, a 1960s Rolex explorer sold for £12,000 (estimate £7,000-£9,000).
Another lot which interested the national press was a fascinating Victorian photo album with photos from the Zulu war of 1879, including one of Rorke’s Drift taken immediately after the famous battle. The collection was snapped up for £1,450 (estimate £700-£900).
A rather more modern photographic lot sold for even more: a framed presentation display for the Jimi Hendrix experience including a photo and address book page signed by the band sold for £3,050 (estimate £1,500-£2,000).
The Fine Sale included a particularly high quality selection of antique furniture, and the prices achieved reflected this. Among the star lots were a large and impressive 19th century black boulle and brass mounted display cabinet which sold for £3,100 (estimate £800-£1,200) and a Chinese late Qing Dynasty hardwood opium bench which sold for £1,200 (estimate £500-£700).
The third day of our Fine Sales are given over to pictures, and with artists such as Alfred Munnings, David Hockney, Colin Burns and Fabian Perez all represented, the eyes of many collectors were on the auction. Highlights included an original black ballpoint pen signature on a coloured facsimile print of a 1966 picture by David Hockney which sold for £1,800 (estimate £900-£1,000) and a signed watercolour by Alfred Munnings which sold for £1,550 (estimate £800-£1,200)
Keys next Fine Sale is in November; we are already accepting consignments.