A Taste of the Oriental at the Penzance Auction House

May 24, 2012 - PRLog -- The “cloisonné” enameled small lidded pot  by Namikawa Yasuyuki, a beautiful work of art decorated with chrysanthemum and stylized flowers, was listed at £1000 to £2000, but ended up as the sale’s star performer at £10,500.

This was not the only piece that attracted attention, with a range of oriental items doing exceedingly well in the busy antiques sale that took place on Friday 18th May.

With over 1400 lots totaling more than 20,000 individual pieces, items that had been valued at £50 to £80 sold for over £3000 thanks to bids from the floor, online bidding with www.the-saleroom.com and telephone interest.

Other items included a rare and remarkable 18th century child’s bureau, a large Chinese Yixing teapot, a Rolex, a Victorian style 18ct gold ring with diamonds, a Louis Vuitton leather covered trunk and a bronze ship’s bell from the HMS Opossum dated 1895.

Over 470 people were registered to bid from across the globe, highlighting that it no longer matters where in the world you are if something catches your eye.  

This was well illustrated by a rare automated clock, in the form of a flowering pine tree with perching birds, complete with a child in a rocking swing and simulated flowing water, which sold to a Chinese clock dealer for £7000.  

“We are very proud our price estimates, which are very often spot on.  But I am delighted that items sold on Friday for amounts that exceeded our expectations,” said auctioneer David Lay.

“We had five phone lines open for the bidding.  There were nearly 500 people registered to bid and prices soared as interest came in from across the world.”

The cloisonné piece was just 6.5cm high and technically accomplished, formed with sheets of brass which were painted with ink and sticks of metal which formed walls to contain powered glass.  When fired, this powered glass melted to become enamel which was then polished, built up and fired again, to create a fine design.

Mr Lay sold the item on behalf of a local woman, following the death of her husband who had an eye for fine art, which was secured by a buyer in Cheadle, Cheshire.

Penzance Auction House’s next Antiques Sale takes place on the 12th and 13th July with the closing date for entries of 8th June.  Items will be available to view through the catalogue which is online at http://www.davidlay.co.uk and bids can be taken from the floor, phones or online at http://www.the-saleroom.com  

In the meantime, General Household Sales take place at Penzance Auction House every Tuesday, with viewings held the Saturday before.  For more info, please visit http://www.davidlay.co.uk  

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EDITOR’S NOTES
Contact: Helen Mulhern at Eventy – Marketing & PR on 01326 376273 / helen@eventy.co.uk
Photo: Please find attached a selection of low res photos of the cloisonné piece.  Higher res images are available on request.