SURREY.- A Magnificent Rhinoceros Horn that has been in the same Surrey family since it was bought to the UK at the end of the 19th century is expected to fetch in the region of £30,000-50,000 when it is offered for sale by Catherine Southon Auctioneers and Valuers on Wednesday May 8th, 2013 at The Chateau, Coombe Lane, Shirley Hills, Surrey.

The Auction of just over 400 lots will comprise silver, ceramics, jewellery, vertu, collectables, furniture, pictures and works of art. The auction will begin at 12noon and viewing will take place on May 7 between 9am – 6pm and prior to the sale, 9am – 11am. For those who cannot attend the sale, there will be online bidding via the-saleroom.com.

The fine and rare full tip rhinoceros horn has been on display in the family home through several generations and the current owner didn’t really know its value until he saw something similar on an antiques television programme recently. The beautifully carved horn is mounted on a wooden stand and dates from the Qing Dynasty (late 19th century). It is finely carved in openwork with flowers and berries. A similar one sold in Hong Kong recently for £100,000.

When the owner unveiled the 19th century rhinoceros horn and stand from a shopping bag at a valuation day, Catherine was completely shocked, and immediately extremely excited at the thrill of handling such a fine and important work of art.

Also included in the auction is a single-owner collection from Farnham in Surrey, that comprises 140 lots of silver, jewellery, furniture, paintings, vertu, ceramics and decorative works of art. Interesting items from this estate include a set of medals for the Great War including a Military Cross awarded to Captain Desmond Annersley Fraser Needham (1885-1958) of the Royal Fusiliers which is estimated at £1,500-2,000. According to the citation, which accompanies the medals, Needham was …'Awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the fighting near Bailleul from 12th to 16th April 1918.'...'During the whole of this period Captain Needham displayed an untiring energy and an absolute disregard of danger, and his conduct of the operations on the 13th April undoubtedly saved a very critical situation.'

From the same estate is a collection of 18th, 19th and 20th Century miniatures including a miniature of Captain D.A.F. Needham, the recipient of the medal, which has estimates ranging from £150 to £350. A large copper Newlyn School tray with signs of the zodiac by John Pearson, dated 1905 is expected to fetch £500-800 and a beautiful collection of 18th and 19th century painted and ivory fans carry estimates from £40 through to £400. A leather and gilt metal ladies stationery casket and matching folder, which was made in France in the late 19th century is expected to fetch £100-200 and a Victorian novelty brooch modelled as a bee is estimated at £600-800.

Continuing on from the success of her first auction in November 2012, familiar face to many Catherine has been holding a number of valuation days in the South East, over the past few months which unearthed some real gems.

Also included in the Auction, is a collection of pencil and pen and ink drawings by illustrators of children's books including E. H. Shepard, Jonathan Langley, Margaret Tarrant and Cicely Mary Barker.

As Catherine explained: “Ernest Howard Shepard is mainly remembered for his illustrations of Winnie- the-Pooh, Piglet and Tigger but what many people don't realise is that for over 50 years he was a political cartoonist for the magazine Punch, and he also illustrated a number of other books including his own autobiography Drawn from memory, and we are auctioning one of these illustrations from the book entitled “Showed all over by an elderly soldier”. This depicts Ernest as a child being shown around Dover Castle by a strict soldier not daring to move a muscle. It is estimated at £200-400, while “Following Mr. Punch” for Punch magazine is expected to fetch £200-300.” These illustrations were sold by the Shepard family through the Fine Art Society several years ago and bought by the current owner.

A good collection of Moorcroft pottery consisting of vases, dishes and jugs in the popular Pomegranate pattern that were discovered at an Oxted valuation day in March has estimates ranging from £150 to £400.