A FOUNTAIN pen sold for more than £6,000 at an auction held by a Somerset firm this month.
Lawrences’ three-day sale of books, militaria and collectors’ items drew to a close on September 11, with a 650-lot selection of lots for every sort of collector - including a rare Namiki fountain pen, complete with 14-carat nib and a silver cover.
"The lucky buyer will saviour every word he writes with this 10.5cm pen," said a Lawrences spokesperson.
"This lot cost £6,250."
The sale comprised such a variety of items that a poster for the James Bond film Moonraker (£135) was just a couple of hundred lots from a glass-domed case containing a taxidermied two-head duckling (£90).
The highlights were rather more dependably mainstream: a good Victorian dolls house with dolls within made £1,625; a selection of accessories for a dolls’ house included miniature food, fireplaces and even a step ladder (£2,375); and some miniature dolls suitable for such a house sold above expectations at £1,750.
Meanwhile, musical lots also proved popular at the sale.
"Two rather dissimilar musical instruments performed well: an antique cello with a specious label for 1658 found buyers who tuned in at £2,375, while a modern Fender Telecaster guitar struck a chord with collectors to make £1,620," the spokesperson added.
"Continuing the musical theme, a musical box made £1,375."
SOLD: The Fender Telecaster, for £1,620
Two maritime items sold well: two 19th Century sailor’s Valentines shells, decorated with heart motifs and floral designs, made £2,750; and a Primitive naval painting on wood panel – a piece of `Folk Art` and probably painted on the lid of a seaman’s chest - sailed to £2,370.
Other strong prices included a £1,250 for signed photographs of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; £1,500 for a Japanese silk embroidered coat; a surprising surge of interest for three watercolours of Taunton by Harry Frier that made £1,370; and £2,250 for a rare war time hardback 55th edition of the 1918 Wisden’s Cricketers Almanack.
Luxury always seems to command a premium: four bottles of 1959 Chateau Margaux raised bids – and may yet raise glasses – at £1,370; a bottle of `The Macallan, Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky`,18 years old, distilled in 1972 and bottled in 1990, was knocked down – and may yet be knocked back – at £2,000; and a fine quality vintage Louis Vuitton trunk went just over its estimate to make £1,000.
The total for the three days exceeded £540,000 with barely 7% unsold.
SOLD: A Victorian dolls house, for £1,625
SOLD: A primative naval painting, for £2,370
SOLD: The rare Namiki fountain pen, for a staggering £6,250
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here