Four pieces of furniture, including a 14-foot Lodge & Co dining table, from a house on the Lancashire Cumbria border, made well over their estimates at an online auction proving that quality antiques remain highly sought after.
All dating from the 19th century and coming from a family home, the dining table sold for £10,800, a Georgian burr wood bureau fetched £3,650, drum table went for £1,100 and a near pair of bookcases made £680.
A delighted Kevin Kendal from 1818 Auctioneers says well-made items, with lots of quality details, continue to do well at auction. Proof he says of the point that ‘brown’ furniture does sell well at auction.
“And, in the case of the 14ft dining room table,” continues Kevin “it sold well because it was made by very good English furniture makers – working in Lancaster and Preston – Lodge and Co.
“The quality of their work and attention to detail matched that of the better known Lancaster furniture makers, Gillows who set up shop about 100 years earlier. I expect the mahogany for this table also came into Lancaster via the port.
“The vendor, who wishes to remain anonymous, remembers the table being fully extended and looking fabulous. And that includes a great leg detail. They are inset into the table so no one would have the problem of knocking knees with a table leg,” adds Kevin.
Other double-digit highlights for 1818 Auctioneers over the last 18 months include a record price of £10,200 for a pen-and-ink sketch by Alfred Wainwright; an amethyst snake necklace from a Lakeland house selling for £22,500; a 1950s car that realised £26,000 and a truck from the same period which made £12,200.
View recent auction results here.