BBC CAMERAS WITNESS 15TH CENTURY ALABASTER STUDY SELLING FOR £15,000 AT AUCTION

Hannam’s Auctioneers of Selborne had a record sale at their two day Fine Art and Oriental Auction of the 14th and 15th July. With over 1,400 items of porcelain, glass, bronzes, clocks, watches, silver, jewellery and oriental works of art, there was something for everybody as the crowd came down to see the BBC record their ‘Celebrity Antique Road Trip’.

BBC Presenter Zoe Ball and her partner from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Ian Waite joined the Antique Road Trip experts, Paul Laidlaw and Margie Cooper at the auction room in front of an excited audience to sell their interesting items for their selected charities. The episode is expected to be aired this autumn.

With over 1,600 approved bidders online from across the world, multiple phone bidders, and a busy saleroom, Hannam’s staff had their work cut out over the busy two days. A fantastic private collection of nearly 100 antique clocks and watches sold well, along with another private collection of Chinese snuff bottles selling for just under £10,000.

The highlight of sale however was a fine and rare 15th century European alabaster study of Pieta c1430 wonderfully formed as Virgin with Christ. With five telephone bidders and three online platforms the interest in the item was worldwide, and this was proved as it went on to sell for £15,000.

Bronzes and Sculptures did fantastically well, with great prices across the board. Notable items included a fine and extremely 19th Century Franz Xavier Bergmann rare cold painted bronze study of hounds, selling for £4,400. A stunning Paul Philippe French cold painted bronze and ivory figural group, selling for £7,500, and a fine 17th century Italian bronze figure of a classical male selling for £3,000.

The Oriental department maintained their dominance with not only the private collection of snuff bottles selling well but also having results such as the 18th century Chinese twin handled bronze censer on stand bearing Xuande marks to base selling for £3,800. A lovely Chinese carved Chenxiang wood long necklace selling for £3,600, and a good 19th century Japanese Meiji period Tokyo school okimono, selling for £3,200.

Other notable results throughout the two day auction were a Panerai marina Militaire gentleman’s wristwatch selling online for £3,400. A very good scratch built steam locomotive, 3Ft 1ins long, selling in the room for £3,600, and a stunning pair of art deco ladies diamond earrings together with a similar five stone ladies diamond ring, sold to a telephone bidder for £4,000.

Hannam’s Auctioneers offer free valuations on items brought to the saleroom every Monday from 10am until 2pm, with the additional free service of house visits by our specialist valuers if required.

We invite the public to consign items for our forthcoming fine art antique sale on the 18th & 19th August. For more information please contact the office on 01420 511788 or email us at sales@hannamsauctioneers.com.

Lot 185 – £15,000

Lot 182 – £4,400

Lot 274 – £7,500

Lot 279 – £3,000

Lot 1040 – £3,800

Lot 1253 – £3,600

Lot 1329 – £3,200

Lot 781 – £3,400

Lot 333 – £3,600

Lot 410 – £4,000