Henry Aldridge & Son

The Devizes Auctioneers

Devizes Auctioneers Expand

Despite the uncertainty that is surrounding the economy at present. Henry Aldridge & Son are delighted to announce that due to the success of their new saleroom format the auctioneers will be holding sales of Victorian and Later Effects every two weeks rather than once every three weeks.

Vendors have been very satisfied with the consistently high prices achieved in the Devizes auction rooms for Antiques and Collectibles. Andrew Aldridge MRICS, says the reasoning behind this growth lay in the strategy of targeting private individuals in addition to our regular trade client base.

Henry Aldridge & Son's Autumn sale of Antiques and Collectors items was a well attended affair with advance publicity in both newspapers and the Internet bringing buyers from as far afield as mainland Europe to Devizes to bid for the lots on offer. The clock section brought several top estimate prices for the auctioneers including £2100 for a 19th cent walnut bracket clock in the Gothic revival style. An 18th cent moonphase bracket clock by Samuel Cochrane was fiercely contested by two private collectors to just over the top estimate at £3100, a good longcase by Etherington of London with later additions sold for £5250 and a mahogany regulator unsigned but needing restoration made £2800.

Private individuals and collectors bought all of the top clock lots on show.

A 19th century walnut display cabinet was one of the highlights of the furniture section on offer, not to everyone's tastes because of its gilt brass decoration, it made a respectable £1700 though. The vendor was very pleased with this investment considering she had paid a few pounds for it before she retired. A collection of early oak furniture was led by a childs or nursery coffer making a very grown up £1100 and an oak country corner cupboard £1000, although the subject of heavy restoration and woodworm investigation, this did not put off a gentleman from the trade from Wales. A set of six 19th cent mahogany balloon back dining chairs proved that not all Victorian furniture is unfashionable, selling for a top estimate £1000.

Collectors items now make up an important part of these sales, one particular lot gave its owner a pleasant surprise. It was a Maori Whalebone handclub, it had been consigned for sale in a box of bric a brac and been spotted by the auctioneers. Although badly damaged on the one side, this very specialist item was sold to a gentleman on the telephone against bids in the room and from the internet for £1150. Medals have always attracted high prices in Devizes, two groups were on offer, the best of which sold to a collector for £650.

Henry Aldridge & Sons next auction of Antiques and Collectors Items is on the 24th November. If you have any antique furniture, silver, paintings, clocks, ceramics or collectors items please feel free to contact either Alan Aldridge Principal Auctioneer or Andrew Aldridge BA Hons Fine Arts Valuation MRICS for friendly professional advice.