LONDON.- A large Chinese Ming Dynasty lacquered carved wood seated figure of Guan Yin sold for £19,456 in 
Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuer’s sale today (Wednesday, November 28, 2018) at Farleigh Court Golf Club, Selsdon in Surrey. Measuring 66cm high, the seated figure, had been estimated to fetch £200-300 [Lot 183].

Another highlight of the sale was a rare bronze hand held mirror by René Lalique circa 1910, which sold for £8,755 – more than 17 times its estimate. Cast with three graces on the circular section among swirls and the handle cast with a devil figure, the mirror was stamped on the side Lalique and was expected to fetch £300-£500. It sold to a collector [Lot 24].

As Catherine Southon said, after the sale: “The Lalique bronze mirror was certainly an astonishing price and not what we were expecting. I knew that in perfect condition they could reach thousands but this example was in very poor condition. It was very tarnished and worn and the glass itself was scratched.

She continued: “I am delighted with the result of todays sale, which had several surprises! The Ming figure was in poor condition - it was very badly wormed, worn and had a broken hand. We knew it was early but the condition concerned us - clearly the buyers were not concerned about the condition!!”

Also of note in the sale was a pair of impressive antique Oriental coiled dragon arm bracelets with articulated dragons which fetched £6,080. They had been estimated at £3,0005,000 [Lot 246]. 


Elsewhere, an impressive silver twin handled presentation trophy cup and cover for The Langeinor Hunt, 1911 sold for £3,405 against an estimate of £3,000-5,000. It was engraved with a presentation inscription ‘Presented to Mr William Lewis by The Langeinor Hunt and Other Friends on his Resigning the Mastership of The Langeinor Hounds which he held from 1895 to 1911’. Mr William Lewis, Kings Head was elected Master to the hounds Langeinor, Pentyrch in 1895 [lot 108].

Catherine Southon Auctioneers and Valuers hold 6 sales a year of furniture, textiles, paintings, ceramics, silver, jewellery, toys and militaria, their next sales will be Wednesday 27th February 2019 and Wednesday 1st May 2019

* Please note that the prices quoted include Buyers Premium of 21.6%