Gourd goes to America

Dee, Atkinson & Harrison's Auction of Antiques & Fine Art on Friday 23 April, got off to a flying start with most of the silver lots selling at or above the estimates, there were also one or two surprises in the Silver Plate section, with a pair of twin branch convertible candelabra selling for £230.

Sales in the Jewellery section were patchy, but gold continues to hold its value with an 18ct gold necklace in the form of snake links making £480 and a gentleman's 15 ct gold signet ring £340. An oriental gourd applied with gold coloured and copper wirework was bought by an America who left a successful commission bid of £450.

For the past few years Victorian brown furniture has not been considered, by many, to be fashionable or desirable. This has been due partly to the size, as some pieces are just too big for modern houses. A Victorian mahogany chest of two short and four long graduated drawers made £550, which is a very good price for such a piece, but what an investment, try to find anything new which is comparable in both quality and capacity for the same amount of money and you will be looking for a very long time. Good pre Victorian furniture continues to achieve high prices: A George III mahogany chest £400; a yew and elm Windsor armchair made £350; a good quality 20th century oak open low dresser £1,300; a mahogany extending dining table £1,900.

In recent years brass has not made particularly good prices, but in this sale many lots sold extremely well. An early 20th century brass coal bin far exceeded the estimate to be knocked down for £20, and a Mumlak revival brass jardinière made £180. Other good prices included: a Victorian copper jelly mould and a Victorian pierced brass kettle stand £90; a brass horse carriage bell together with three harness brasses £140.

Some very strong prices were achieved in the Glass Section: A Lalique toilet water bottle together with a modern Lalique figure depicting a kneeling girl with a swan £120: two 18th century green class canisters £250; a pair of lustrous green Art Glass vases together with a dimpled lustrous green Art Glass vase £110; a set of eight cut crystal wine glasses £120; an 18th century wine glass £220; an 18th century cordial glass circa 1770 £250; an 18th century tazza £140; and a collection of 19th century and earlier glasses £220.

There were one or two surprises in the painting section including: A portrait of a female in the manner of L Alma Tadema £700; a farmyard scene with donkey, goat and hens, by Carl Whitfielld (1958- ) signed on board, £750; 'Wednesday Market, Beverley' by Kenneth F Elwell, signed and dated 1934, £600; an unframed painting by Mary Dawson Elwell (1874-1952) of a mill beside a river, £450; a painting by Walter Goodin (1907-1992) of Silex Bay, north of Flamborough Head, signed, which was purchased from the artist in July 1959 after spending the afternoon with Walter, made £2,200. Two other oils by Walter Goodin also made very good prices, a painting of North Landing, Flamborough with figures taking a boat out to sea, signed and on board £3,000 and another of 'Vi's Birthday Bouquet', still life of flowers in a vase £2,450.

Although this was a relatively small sale some very good prices were achieved, which can in some ways be attributed to the internet, as many of the under bidders were from all corners of the world.