In this week's issue of the Auction Room Report – your insider guide to the auction world – our expert Kayleigh Davies selects her current favourite auctions. |
In this week's issue of the Auction Room Report – your insider guide to the auction world – our expert Kayleigh Davies selects her current favourite auctions. |
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OIVA TOIKKA
Estimate: 3 000 EUR |
| WILHELM KÅGE
Estimate: 2 000 SEK |
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WW2 'L' DETACHMENT SAS FIGHTING KNIFE
Estimate: 5 000 - 7 000 GBP |
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This is more than a knife; it's a direct link to British military history, having belonged to Major Charles George Gibson 'Pat' Riley DCM. A legendary SAS founder member, his courage earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was known to finish a game of billiards amidst fighting at Termoli! So iconic, Riley is now played by Jacob Ifan in the drama Rogue Heroes. His medals were fought over when they came to auction in 2013, fetching almost £100,000. This knife, with incredible provenance, represents a rare opportunity to own a piece from a pivotal figure in Britain's elite Special Forces.
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TABLE LAMP
Estimate: 60 GBP |
| ROBIN NANCE OF ST. IVES
Estimate: 200 GBP |
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Lawrences Auctioneers presents a themed sale featuring American artist Budwin Conn. Conn, who studied under Hans Hofmann, painted widely across Europe, including in John Singer Sargent's former Chelsea studio. His mastery lay in naturalistic, almost photographic depictions of the human figure. While often showing summery outdoor scenes, his works convey an intriguing uncertainty of mood. Subjects frequently gaze beyond the canvas, hinting at unseen events. This oil on canvas comes with its inspirational photograph, offering a striking contrast between real life and Conn’s artistic vision. He is truly ripe for critical reappraisal.
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| BUDWIN CONN
Estimate: 50 GBP |
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18TH CENTURY BOOKCASE
Estimate: 500 - 700 GBP |
| BLUE TOPAZ & DIAMOND RING
Estimate: 1 350 GBP |
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A Deep Dive with Kayleigh Davies | |
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649. 4257723. RARE CIRCUS POSTER - BOSTOCK & WOMBWELL'S MENAGERIE |
I was chatting to a poster dealer recently who told me that one of the worst aspects of her trade is just how effective the posters were as advertising. These events look so fantastic and exciting that she’d desperately love to attend, but it’s quite unfortunate that it’s now 100 years too late.
Ken Rattenbury was a well-known figure in the circus community and a collector of memorabilia, lending images from his poster collection to many books. His collection now comes to auction, and the brightly coloured posters are still as captivating as they ever were. We may now look at them through a different lens – it’s hard to imagine that using animals for entertainment in this way was acceptable until relatively recently—but I think even if the acts have changed, they still evoke that tentative feeling of stepping into a big top, not quite knowing what will happen, except that it’s going to be something truly special.
This poster caught my attention above the others in the collection because Bostock and Wombwell were one of the most significant travelling menageries (seen as quite a distinct branch of circus arts!). Their poster boldly claims them to be the oldest, largest, and best ever, and I think we can say that’s fair. They dominated the circuit from the 19th century until the 20th century.
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Their success tells a story of leisure time in Britain and the demand for bigger spectacles and more animals – George Wombwell was the first person to breed a lion in captivity in Britain – and their downfall does too. With competition from other forms of entertainment like radio and cinema, growing concern for animal welfare, and exotic animals simply becoming less novel, the last of their collection was sold to a zoo in 1931.
Whether you just enjoy the image, the history, or if it gets your imagination going, I hope you like this ‘magnificent group of lions’ as much as I do. |
– Kayleigh Davies, toys and art glass expert |
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A Deep Dive
with Kayleigh Davies |
649. 4257723. RARE CIRCUS POSTER - BOSTOCK & WOMBWELL'S MENAGERIE |
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I was chatting to a poster dealer recently who told me that one of the worst aspects of her trade is just how effective the posters were as advertising. These events look so fantastic and exciting that she’d desperately love to attend, but it’s quite unfortunate that it’s now 100 years too late.
Ken Rattenbury was a well-known figure in the circus community and a collector of memorabilia, lending images from his poster collection to many books. His collection now comes to auction, and the brightly coloured posters are still as captivating as they ever were. We may now look at them through a different lens—it’s hard to imagine that using animals for entertainment in this way was acceptable until relatively recently—but I think even if the acts have changed, they still evoke that tentative feeling of stepping into a big top, not quite knowing what will happen, except that it’s going to be something truly special.
This poster caught my attention above the others in the collection because Bostock and Wombwell were one of the most significant travelling menageries (seen as quite a distinct branch of circus arts!). Their poster boldly claims them to be the oldest, largest, and best ever, and I think we can say that’s fair. |
They dominated the circuit from the 19th century until the 20th century. Their success tells a story of leisure time in Britain and the demand for bigger spectacles and more animals—George Wombwell was the first person to breed a lion in captivity in Britain—and their downfall does too. With competition from other forms of entertainment like radio and cinema, growing concern for animal welfare, and exotic animals simply becoming less novel, the last of their collection was sold to a zoo in 1931.
Whether you just enjoy the image, the history, or if it gets your imagination going, I hope you like this ‘magnificent group of lions’ as much as I do. |
– Kayleigh Davies, toys and art glass expert |
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