The Under The Hammer column with Morphets Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers: Outstanding prices for furniture at the latest fine art and antique sale

A furniture dealer of more than 40 years, who had watched the on-line sale, said he was staggered at just how much items had gone for.

The prices throughout the furniture section were reminiscent of years past when antique furniture was much more in demand.

One of the most astonishing prices was the £1,600 paid for three 18th century dining chairs of good quality but ordinary enough to have a pre-sale estimate in line with current prices of £100-150; the following lot of seven similar chairs went to another buyer at £2,000.

An excellent George III mahogany serpentine commode realised £13,000, an 18th century walnut crossbanded kneehole desk sold for £1,800, an early 20th century painted satinwood bookcase-cabinet took a top bid of £1,400 and another stunning price was the £1,800 paid for a child’s yew-wood Windsor armchair.

Amongst the Yorkshire Carvers section an example of early work from the Thompson of Kilburn workshop was this oak and burr oak sideboard dating from 1928-1930 which realised £23,000 followed by a pre-mouse oak cupboard c.1926-1928 at £8,500.

Smaller Mouseman pieces also had bids coming in thick and fast and an exceptional price was paid for a 1960s Mouseman oak table lamp at £1,100, another slightly earlier at £700 and a fruit bowl, 24cm diameter at £600.

A delightful example of the work of Jean Dufy (French 1888-1964) of fishing boats, oil on canvas, 47cmx56cm, illustrated here, created a good deal of interest with a London gallery outbidding a French collector at £34,000 well over the pre-sale estimate of £20,000-£25,000. This was followed by an example of the British artist Sheila Fell’s work depicting a landscape with hayrick, oil on canvas, 25.5cm x 30.5cm which sold for £10,000 against an estimate of £3,000-£4,000.

Elsewhere in the sale an early 18th century ebonised bracket clock by Paul Beauvais realised £4,000

A 19th century china 24 piece dessert service of floral decoration realised £850 despite condition issues; a rare early 19th century Staffordshire documentary jug for ‘Tho’s Knaginton, The Famous Mole Destroyer’ sold for £2,300 and a Chinese black and gilt lacquered cabinet on stand, 19th century, which was purchased at Morphets 18 months ago but didn’t suit the spot it was destined for and was re-entered and sold for £4,000.

The silver, jewellery and gold coins all benefited from the increase in bullion prices and the demand for good quality diamonds of size.

The sale and prices realised can be viewed in the archive section of Morphets website www.morphets.co.uk. All hammer prices are subject to buyer’s premium and VAT thereon.

Morphets next Fine Art and Antique Catalogue sale is to be held on Thursday, November 26 and the deadline for entries is Friday, October 30; the Christmas Fine Wine, Vintage Port and Whisky sale will be held on the eve of the catalogue sale on Wednesday, November 25 and final entries are invited by Tuesday, October 20.

If you would like advice on selling your items contact Elizabeth Pepper-Darling or Nick Mellors on 01423 530030 or via email [email protected] [email protected] .

Dates for your diary are the Modern British and 20th Century Art to be held on Saturday, October 17.

Viewing by appointment on Friday, October 16 and morning of the sale by appointment; on Thursday, October 29 we shall be selling the Library of a Kent Manor House, on instructions from a Charitable Trust, with viewing by appointment on Wednesday, October 28 and the morning of the sale.

These sales will be available to view from Friday, October 9 on the calendar section at website www.morphets.co.uk.