Nearly 2,500 lots in East Anglia’s most important antiques auction
A freeze-dried piranha fish is just one of nearly 2,500 lots that collectors will be getting their teeth into at the end of this month at Norfolk’s most important three-day antiques sale of the year.
The annual Fine Quality Antique Sale at Keys Fine Art Auctioneers in Aylsham is part of a week of sales, which also sees an important wine auction, and the UK’s biggest sale of East Anglian art.
The 8 inch long piranha, mounted on a wooden plinth, is one of the more unusual lots in the auction, which covers a huge range of items, including furniture, jewellery, ceramics, clocks and watches and glasswares.
Other lots in the sale include:
-
two large and impressive Chinese jardinières, painted with panels including dragons, smoke clouds and floral borders, which are expected to sell for between £8,000 and £12,000
-
An important collection of 31 Moorcroft ceramic pieces, including a sought-after two-handled circular dish (estimate £1,400-£1,600)
-
more than 100 lots of high quality jewellery, including an important opal and diamond brooch/pendant with an estimate of £10,000-£15,000
-
an impressive collection of Queen Anne walnut furniture, including a beautiful bureau cabinet (estimate £4,000-£5,000) and a Queen Anne walnut games table (estimate £4,000-£5,000)
-
a unique scratch-built live model steam engine, built in King’s Lynn in 1886, complete with black-painted boiler and all brass fittings (estimate £300-£400)
-
a late 19th century ivory conductor’s baton, presented to ‘Band Master Short by the Officers and members of the band G Company, 1st Herts Rifle Volunteers’ (now part of the Royal Anglian Regiment), in 1889
Keys Fine Art partner Roy Murphy said, “Our annual Fine Quality Antique Sale is probably the most important antique auction in East Anglia. Once again we have a very exciting and comprehensive catalogue, with nearly 2,500 lots ranging from some real collectors’ items to more accessible pieces which anyone might buy to have in their homes – plus, of course, the odd quirky item, such as the freeze-dried piranha fish!
“We are particularly excited about the collection of Queen Anne furniture, which has already received considerable attention from collectors across the UK and overseas. These are rare and very high quality pieces of furniture all from one private collection.”
The Fine Quality Antique Sale takes place from Tuesday 25th November to Thursday 27th November, with the wine sale also on Thursday 27th November. Bids can be made in person at the sale, as well as live online. Full details at www.keysauctions.co.uk
-
Keys’ East Anglia Art Sale takes place on Friday 28th November at 10.30am, and features over 400 lots.