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AUCTION REPORT
Willingham Auctions
25 High Street
Willingham
Cambridge
CB4 5ES
Telephone: 01954 261252
Fax: 01954 201396
Email: info@willinghamauctions.com
Website: www.willinghamauctions.com
Sale date: 24th May 2008
Sale type: antiques, collectibles, modern furniture and garden items
Buyer’s premium: 15% plus VAT
Many years ago, when I first moved to East Anglia, I thought that Thomas Gaze’s sale at Diss in Norfolk was just about the most civilised auction I had ever been to. There was a quiet, unhurried way of doing things that was eminently relaxing and for many people it was as much a day out and a chance for a chat and an ice cream as it was an opportunity to buy things.
Gaze’s still holds a good sale but the unhurried, pre-war feel of the place has long gone. It is now brisk and efficient and even the charming old folk who ran the rather rudimentary café have given way to bright young things who reign over a world of chrome counters and double-lite lattes.
And yet, at Willingham Auctions, I think I may have discovered a new oasis of quiet charm and an almost reticent attitude towards selling, although it isn’t a small operation. There are five or six adjoining rooms offering all manner of items, as well as a large outside area stuffed with deadstock and, on the day I went, new and rather good-looking garden furniture.
For those looking to lounge around outside this summer, there were some cracking bargains to be had. Pairs of good-quality heavy garden armchairs were going at a low-estimate £60, while a hardwood garden table with a glass top and six dining chairs was a steal at £120 (against an estimate of £170–£250). Aluminium and wooden sun loungers could be had at a mid-estimate £50. I don’t know where this stuff came from but it looked brand new and there was no shortage of buyers. Solar-powered Symi rock lights were selling at £14 a go, while two extra-large glazed terracotta pots could be had for £15 the pair – pop along to B&Q and see how much they are there. A graded self-propelled Flymo petrol mower with a Briggs and Stratton engine made £130 (£145–£160). The model number was QS514 5HW, and if that means anything to you, I am so, so sorry.
Inside there were some rather nice pieces but very little seemed to be getting much above its bottom estimate. I bid on a silver pig pincushion (£30–£60), but pigs are popular and it ran away from me at £75. The Goss Lincoln Imp wasn’t so fast and was mine for £12 (£20–£40).
There were a couple of electric guitars on offer. One, grandly entitled Phantom Rhythm Master, was a fairly cheap Korean guitar (I guess – Google refuses to give me any information about it) but at £25 (estimate £40–£80) it was cheap enough for a beginner. The other was a rather nice Squier Telecaster in red. Commendably, the auctioneers had even provided the serial number so that any fret nerds who felt so inclined could find out when and where it was made (it was number M2134301, if you are interested). It sold for £55 against an estimate of £40–£80: only a Squier, but good value.
I didn’t see Staffordshire figures of Lillywhite or Parr but the two miniature Gradidge cricket bats signed by the England and Australian cricket teams of 1964 seemed cheap at £65 (£30–£60).
“You’ve come a long way, don’t leave it now,” said the auctioneer as he cajoled a reluctant female bidder to try for the ruby (3.3ct) and diamond (0.22ct) ring set in 18ct gold. “But if my husband finds out…!” bleated the woman melodramatically. “Don’t worry,” he reassured her, “we won’t tell.” Good thing too, as she spent £700 on it.
Some of the rugs seemed good value and the catalogue gave the retail shop price along with the auction estimate. Apparently, the Zeigler Ferahan hand-knotted rug with the red field retails at Selfridges for £895. Here in Cambridgeshire it made £260.
I bid on two Georgian bell-shaped drinking glasses (one with an air-twist stem) as I think that wine tastes better from classy drinking ware. They sold away from me for £120 (£50–£80), which may be just as well as these things were extensively faked around 100 years ago and I had very little idea whether they were right or not. Instead, and rather more cheaply, I bought four framed French lithographs (no, not naughty, Second Empire royalty) for £8 (£15–£30). The two oriental feather pictures that came with them (made with real wings and feathers – yuk) ended up in a nearby skip.
Nazi memorabilia has never been my thing, first because it is fairly queasy stuff and, second, because so much of it has been forged in recent years. But if it’s your passion, then you would have been delighted at some Third Reich plates and bowls at £35 (£30–£50) and a German gas mask for £15 (£15–£30). A German artillery officer’s cap sold for a bottom estimate £200 and five Luftwaffe badges for £25 (£30–£60). One bloke seemed to be buying a lot of the German artefacts which caused the auctioneer to enquire anxiously, “Is there a theme to what you are buying, sir?” “Certainly,” responded the bidder gamely (no, he didn’t have a comic German accent), “the Americans love it!” Fair enough. Mind you, if the Nazis ever make a comeback then the rare World War Two anti-aircraft range finder could come in very handy. It sold for £90 (£110–£160): just the thing for the Dornier in your life.
Some more prices (estimates in brackets):
Sanyo 17” LCD TV in white (£70–£120) £45
Black and Decker router (£20–£30) £18
Redman and Hales mahogany coffee table plus sherry table (£30–£40) £30
New Precision mitre saw (£12–£18) £12
Ebonised Victorian nursing chair (£20–£40) £30
White Mobo horse £10
Brown Mobo horse £12!
Canvas leather gun case by John Rigby and Co. (£30–£60) £30
Victorian mahogany marble-topped demi-lune washstand (£30–£60) £45
3 Victorian balloon-back dining chairs in walnut (£50–£80) £20
Set of brass scales and weights stamped “S. MORDAN & Co London” (£25–£40) £20
3 cut-glass and 1 pressed-glass decanter (£25–£40) £25
Oriental green crackle-glazed bottle vase, 20 cm high (£50–£80) £18
6 Coalport fairest flowers figurines, 10 cm high (£30–£50) £65
Red-polished ware round-bottomed jug with cut-away spout, late Cypriote Bronze Age c.2000 BC, 6” tall (£150–£200) £100
28 pieces of Paragon Rockingham part tea service and 15 pieces of Adderley coffee and tea service (£25–£40) £25
Masons Dragon vase, 31 cm high, and Japanese Imari palette vase, 38 cm high (£40–£60) £30
Copeland Spode tureen and cover and Naples centrepiece cherub bowl (£30–£50) £25
Moorcroft green ground hibiscus trinket box, 2 Wedgwood blue Jasper ware vases and 2 bird bells (£30–£50) £18
11 pieces of Minton’s green-scale pattern no. 4863 tableware, 3 assorted comports and floral cup and saucer (£25–£40) £30
5 assorted blue-and-white, Willow-pattern meat plates (£30–£50) £40
Early Worcester chocolate pot and early blue-and-white bowl, both A/F (£50–£80) £65
Assortment of jewellery, glasses etc. (£20–£40) £10
Assorted petrol lighters, including Zippo (£30–£50) £35
Muller Fres ceiling shade with original brass fittings, 39 cm diameter (£100–£140) £75
3 Victorian glass chamber lamps (£25–£40) £18
Dispatch rider’s helmet, dated 1943, respirator bag and 3 shell dressings (£30–£50) £30
Royal Navy sword and scabbard, 18.25” blade (£100–£180) £75
Victorian sword by Hawkes & Co (£80–£120) £65
United States Society sword (Oddfellows) by E. Armstrong (£50–£100) £40
Court sword and scabbard (£40–£80) £25
Royal Flying Corps World War I MK 4A cockpit clock (£30–£60) £55
Ross 4-drawer telescope and 2 others (£40–£80) £30
Collection of British and US World War II and Vietnam periods and post-war webbing, rifle slings, combat cross straps etc. and other items (£20–£40) £18
Feather Gordon Highlanders bonnet (£110–£180) £90
Coldstream Guards pith helmet (£60–£100) £45
Silver hallmarked 1909 Battalion challenge cup, a leather cartridge belt and another belt, RAF silk and 2 others (£20–£30) £28
4 World War II dress medals with Palestine bar (£10–£20) £15
RAF great coat (very Captain Jack) and 3 jackets etc. (£40–£80) £40
Quantity of cavalry-related clothing boot pulls, collar boxes, spurs etc. (£50–£100) £50
Cased saxophone by Frank Holton & Co (£150–£250) £120
Hornby 0 gauge LMS no. 1 luggage van (boxed) and crane (£30–£60) £35
Good Hornby Dubto 3-rail train set with coaches and rolling stock, 4 engines, 69567, Duchess of Montrose 80054 and Sir Mgel Gresley and 3 boxed and a TP0 mail van set boxed all in fair to good condition (£200–£300) £320
3 boxed H 0 model mini tanks sets (£20–£40) £12
2 boxed van guard sets (£20–£40) £45
Boxed Hornby 00 gauge R508 Flying Scotsman set with exhaust steam sound (£60–£120) £70
Boxed Hornby 00 gauge Thomas and Percy train set (£30–£60) £60
Extensive Hornby 00 gauge twin rail tram set with track to make a plan 9 layout including buildings, rolling stock, coaches, R541 Freight set, diesel D6830 loco, GWR 8751 loco mail coach set (£150–£250) £160
Approximately 160 packets of aircraft decal markings in small filing cabinet (£40–£60) £60
Dinky Leyland Octopus flat truck with chains, 1964166 (£200–£300) £120
Dinky racehorse transport and caravan, cream/orange truck, “Cadburys” cream/red (£20–£40) £50
Lledo models to include Royal Navy collection boxed set of 3 (£50–£100) £50
Collection of Solido American classic cars all mint boxed (£20–£40) £40
Franklin mint 1936 Jaguar SS 100 (£20–£40) £25
55 models of Matchbox Dinky toys to include 1967 Jaguar ‘E’ type soft-top, sports car sets etc. (£200–£300) £210
Boxed Dinky 212 Ford Cortina Rally car and Buick (£20–£40) £25
Totopoly game and four cars including a Corgi Jag XJS (£15–£30) £10
Quantity of lead soldiers (£20–£40) £20
About Willingham Auctions
Easy to find?
Yes. Willingham Auctions is on the B1050 just outside Cambridge, between the A14 and the A1123.
Parking?
Plenty of on-site parking, hard to imagine it is ever entirely full.
Refreshments?
Yes, there is a very good café offering the usual fare, but well cooked and quite cheap. Many of the pictures that are for sale are stacked in the café so you can browse while you graze.
Catalogue?
Yes, £3. Thorough listings, accurate estimates and no tiresome pictures, but watch out because it can jump 50 lots without warning.
Speed of sale?
Around 120 lots an hour.
Charges?
The buyer’s premium is 15% plus VAT. Sellers pay 12% plus VAT, minimum £2 per lot.
We say?
A very enjoyable sale – well worth a visit.
Stuart Maclaren