A collection of antiques from the estate of the late Arnold 'Bill' Beresford of Lincoln were featured in the August sale at the Lincoln auction rooms.
Mr Beresford, who lived off Doddington Road, passed away earlier this year and items from his large collection went under the auctioneer's hammer at Golding Young & Mawer on Wednesday (August 15). Auctioneer William Gregory said: "Mr Beresford and his wife were well known in Lincoln and could be considered collecting connoisseurs. Over the years, they amassed a superb collection of antiques, always buying the very best they could afford.
"Bidders fought hard for the furniture and china offered for sale in our August auction. It bodes well for the fine art and collection of miniatures being sold in our September sales. Their collection of Asian Art is being sold at The Grantham Auction Room on October 10.' The collection, which has been described as 'eclectic but quality' included a bronze and ivory figure of Sapho seated on a rock on a green marble base by Charles Eloy Bailly (1830-1895) which sold for £1,300, well over its £300 to £500 estimate and a George III longcase clock in a mahogany case by Thomas Iles of London which made £1,400.
An early 18th century Italian porcelain plaquedecorated with a figure of Jesus surrounded by putti bearing the motto 'Ascendit Deliciis Affleuns' sold to a specialist dealer from London bidding in the room for £1,750 against a £500 to £800 estimate. The base was a shell shaped receptacle possibly used to hold holy water or rose water. Several items of Georgian and later furniture included a mahoganyserpentine fronted chest with four graduated drawerswhich sold for £1,000, well over its £600 to £800 estimate, an early 19th century mahogany
and rosewood chest of drawers which sold for £1,100 and a small George IV writing table in the manner of Gillows of Lancaster which sold for £1,600.
A pair of late 19th century to early 20th century Chinese hardwood jardinière stands, each with hexagonal tops inset with pink marble, were estimated to sell for £300 to £500 and sold for a hammer price of £700. In the same sale, a collection of studio pottery including four bowls by Brian Dickenson sold for £200. Meanwhile in the bygones section, a group of five medals presented to Ernest Pattison, who played football for West Bromwich Albion, Scunthorpe United, Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham, sold for £500. The medals included the Central League 1926 to 1927 winners' medal which Ernest received whilst playing for West Bromwich Albion and the Doncaster and District F.A. Invitation Cup winners 1933 to 1934 medal. There is also the Benevolent Cup winners 1926 medal with another bearing the initials K.D.C.L. 1927 and another K. & D.C.L. 1926 medal.
The same lot also included a football programme for a match between Doncaster Rovers and Halifax Town in 1931, three contracts to play for Rotherham, West Bromwich Albion and Scunthorpe along with a letter from the Secretary and Manager of Doncaster Rovers, dated July 1931, requesting attendance of pre-season training in August and another accompanied by a two pound bonus. The next Fine Art and Collective sales will be held at the Grantham saleroom on Wednesday and Thursday, September 5 and 6 and at the Lincoln saleroom on Wednesday, September 19.
