ANTIQUES
& COLLECTABLES
Alan McIlwain
Antiques Cataloguer
& Valuer
Some objects don't fit a specific category, but will be offered in our Antiques & Collectables section /sales. We often find some of the biggest "sleepers" here picked up on our travels.
Examples of items in our Antiques section would include such things as enamel advertising signs, tobacciana/pipes, car mascots, bronze figures, treen objects, taxidermy, samplers and more. Our online presence ensures nothing goes 'under the radar', and we'll find the right buyers for practically anything collectable or decorative of value. We've sold such things as a Churchill cigar to a two-headed piglet with outstanding results.
AUC.256, Lot 552, HAMMER £5200
19thC Welsh embroidery / sampler depicting Conwy Castle, mounted on wooden board.
AUC.248, Lot 410, HAMMER £3800
An archive of possessions belonging to Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) famous missionary to China.
AUC.166, Lot 1648, HAMMER £8600
Antique Chinese trinket box topped with carved white jade panel.
PENS & PENCILS
We're always on the lookout for vintage and luxury fountain pens. It's a popular area of collecting, and people might not realise the significance of a pen if they inherit a good one. Popular makers include Parker, Waterman, Conway Stewart, Dunhill, and Montblanc in particular, whose limited edition pens offer good resale value - think of them as the 'Rolex' of pens. Other implements such as ornate extending pencils in silver holders, or even gold, are also sought-after. If pens are made from precious metal this naturally adds a premium as well.
AUC.243, Lot 976, HAMMER £1150
Montblanc Meisterstuck limited edition Imperial Dragon fountain pen.
AUC.169, Lot 1198, HAMMER £1300
Dunhill Namiki lever fountain pen, circa 1930s, decorated with a flying heron and foliage.
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS & CAMERAS
Antique scientific instruments are a very specialist area of collecting. We are on the lookout for: Microscopes: Brass examples such as those by Powell & Lealand, George Adams, R.J. Beck and J.H. Steward. Barometers: Victorian and earlier by Alexander Adie & Son, Ramsden and Dolland. Telescopes: Typically the more 'drawers' the more valuable, by Dolland, J. Short, Carey and Solomon. Binoculars by Carl Zeiss; and all types of antique and professional film Cameras and specialist lenses.
AUC.264, Lot 554, HAMMER £4200
Anschütz Tachyscope with ten photograpic strips (early viewer for the study of movement).
AUC.142, Lot 1148, HAMMER £3300
Victorian walnut cased Negretti & Zambra stereoscope with slides.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
We've sold some fine violin bows, woodwind, guitars, concertinas, and other musical instruments in our dedicated section. Be on the lookout for Fender/Gibson guitars, Buffet and Metzler clarinets, Selmer saxophones, and Lachenal concertinas. Even more modern instruments can have good resale value, as they are often expensive to begin with - large harps for example. The dream is obviously a Stradivarius violin, and there are many imitations out there, but an old and good quality violin can be worth thousands, and the bows just as much.
AUC.256, Lot 434, HAMMER £950
A Swannee Sax slide-saxophone, makers marks to side, length 52cm approx.
AUC.144, Lot 866, HAMMER £2200
19th/early 20th century three-row, 32-button concertina by C. Jeffries.
ALCOHOL
We have a license to sell alcohol through our auctions, and have dealt with consignments of vintage wine, port and whisky. These tend to be offered in a special section of our sales. Vintage alcohol refers to aged and rare spirits or wines that have gained value over time due to their scarcity, unique flavors, and historical significance. These include fine wines and Champagnes, Port, Scotch, Cognac/brandy and more. Some can be ancient, especially Cognac, and some others such as wine can be valuable even if un-drinkable due to extreme age, and collected due to scarcity - this aspect can surprise people!
AUC.248, Lot 420, HAMMER £1800
Macallan Over 25 Years Old Anniversary Malt 'Single Highland Malt Scotch Whiskey', dist. 1971, bottled 1997.