Henry Aldridge & Son

The Devizes Auctioneers

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Henry Aldridge & Son the Devizes Auctioneers latest sale of Antiques and Collectors Items promises to be a most exciting sale. After the last Titanic auction on April 12th and the press coverage surrounding the world record price of £125000 for the Gill Archive and £27000 for the Titanic Menu the auctioneers have come down to Earth with an auction that caters for every taste.

This sale is of the usual calibre with items expected to realise from £10 upto tens of thousands of pounds. The undoubted stars are two 17th Century Bracket Clocks produced by Daniel Quare and Stephan Rimbault of London. Daniel Quare was born in 1648 and worked until his death in 1724. He was Clockmaker to George I and is said to have been the inventor of the repeating watch. He is regarded with Thomas Tompian, George Graham and Joseph Knibb as one of the finest English Clock Makers. The example to be offered in Henry Aldridge's Collectors Sale on the 25th May is an ebonised Bracket Clock with a gilt face, Cherub Spandrels and date signed on chapter ring Dan Quare London and engraved on the backplate circa 1680 chiming on bells. The clock is estimated at £10000-£12000. The second clock by Stephan Rimbault takes the form of an ebonised sarcophagus domed Bracket Clock with gilt ormolu decoration, gilt face with floral decorated spandrels and automaton blacksmiths shop on a serpentine arch. This stunning and extremely rare example of the clock makers art should fetch between £20000 and £30000.

Although these clocks will attract most of the attention there are several hundred other lots contained in the sale. From a local standpoint there are a number of rare and early Pelham puppets going under the hammer. The Toy Section also includes a variety of O Gauge Railway including a Marklin Electric O Gauge Loco.

Those pieces that can be described as a little bit different and give a glimpse into our bygone past always attract a keen following in Henry Aldridge's Collectors Sales. On such item on show is a Victorian Mahogany Plate camera by J. Lancaster and Son of Birmingham, complete with original plates.

The more traditional parts of the auction including ceramics and Antique Furniture. A Good selection of china includes pieces of Royal Worcester, The Second Part of the Crawford Chintz Collection, Davenport, Lustreware, Wedgewood, Masons Ironstone and a large private collection of Early Commemorative. Although catalogued in the paintings section, two paintings on card in watercolour by the famed Royal Worcester Painter and Decorator Stinton will interest buyers in the USA.

The furniture section comprises of a number of period Antique pieces sure to attract the attentions of buyers from the auctioneers large database of both private and trade clients. This is led by an excellent fitted Mid 19th Century Mahogany Compactum Wardrobe, a number of Georgian pieces include chest of drawers, tables and bureau's together with slightly later examples of Victorian Gothic Furniture to works from the 20th Century.

For free professional advice regarding entries for this or any other sale please contact Alan Aldridge or Andrew Aldridge BA Hons FAV MRICS on 01380 729199.