Henry Aldridge & Son

The Devizes Auctioneers

 

 

 

 

Henry Aldridge 2007 Record

 

Henry Aldridge and Son’s move to concentrate on monthly Antiques and collectors sales was seen as a risk by many. But on the evidence of the 10th March auction the new format is working very well with a record sale total for 2007 for the Devizes salerooms together with a very positive 90% of lots sold.  This new format combined with the recent expansion of Henry Aldridge’s saleroom has seen a very positive reaction from both buyers and sellers alike. The key to this is seen as fresh to the market quality antiques and collectables combined with good publicity, target advertising and Henry Aldridge and Son’s database of several thousand clients.

 

A packed saleroom and two days of frenetic viewing saw some very high prices. Archibald Irving was a known collector of pewter, his family consigned over 30 lots to Henry Aldridge for their March 10th Auction. It was a very exciting collection for the auctioneers because a high percentage of the pieces came from Harold Cotterill, who is regarded by the pewter collecting community as its foremost authority and as the author of the definitive work on the subject. Interestingly, the collection itself was given to the vendor’s family as part of a property sale in Cardiff. Interest was registered from all over Europe and members of pewter collectors club battled with other connoisseurs for the lots on offer, which sold for over a shade over £6000.

 

Diamonds are a girls best friend and this was certainly the case in the Jewellery section of the sale, three particular items attracted a great deal of attention. One was a 0.80 ct Diamond cluster ring which sold for £1800, another a brilliant cut 1.10ct Diamond Solitaire ring which sold for £2900 and a 1ct M colour solitaire which made £850. A continental Gold and Enamel cigarette box although damaged but carrying all important Russian import marks sold for £1200. Tom Merrifield is thought of as one of the leading exponents of sculpture of the moving form and Willow was a 12ins example in bronze of his work. This beautiful piece of modern art sold for just above top estimate at £1100. The Moser factory was a producer of glass in Czechoslovakia. By the middle of the 19th century Moser glass had gained the nickname as the glass of kings and Henry Aldridge were fortunate enough to have offered a piece for sale. Attracting attention from Eastern Europe and from London, a bidder from London secured this particular ewer for £1150.

 

The silver and silver plate section of the auction offered over 35 lots ranging from several hundred pounds to fifty pounds, a sale rate of 100% was particularly satisfying for the auctioneers. A pair of silver plated wine coolers sold for £1000, a silver tray dating from 1921 sold for £900 and a set of four silver plated candelabra realised £575.

 

The Sydney Ricketts collection has realized over £30,000 since January and March 10th saw the final part of this stunning array of postcards and stamps sold. Part 3 again held a wonderful array of cards from all over Wiltshire including rare examples from Devizes, Chippenham and Imber. Collectors from all over the South West flocked to Devizes. Prices as with the first and second parts of the collection were high with another £7500 added to the total.

 

The final part of the auction consisted of over 80 lots of Antique furniture dating from 1750 through to Art Deco pieces from the 1930’s. An 18th Century Oak ten panel coffer led the way selling for £720 followed by two early 19th century chest’s of drawers which sold for £380 and £350 respectively.

 

Henry Aldridge and Son are now accepting entries for their auctions of Collectors Items and Antiques on 14th April and May 12th. Please contact Alan Aldridge Principal Auctioneer or Andrew Aldridge BA Hons MRICS Consultant on 01380 729199 for free no obligation advice.