The Under the Hammer column with Tennants Auctioneers: Great results at Costume, Accessories and Textiles Sale

Two of the earliest lots in the sale came from a private collection of embroidered period textiles.

A pair of 17th Century leather gauntlets with floral embroidery and silver work to the cuffs sold for £900 (plus buyer’s premium), and a circa 1720 English Stomacher sold for £950.

Both lots were remarkably well preserved given their age. From a different vendor came an 18th Century Spitalfields silk brocade open robe, decorated with a flower and feather design, sold for £1,000.

Early 20th Century costume sold strongly, too; a colourful early 20th Century evening coat by Debenham and Freebody of London, which was woven with a design incorporating vases of flowers and birds, sold for £650.

Ladieswear from the 1930s and 40s sold well above estimate, with highlights including a collection of six pieces of evening wear that sold for £550 against an estimate of £150-250. 1950s printed cottons were popular amongst buyers too, with a collection of ten cotton dresses selling for £420.

Highlights of the luxury modern accessories in the sale included a Louis Vuitton 55 Keepall monogrammed travel bag that sold for £650 and a further Louis Vuitton brown monogram canvas and leather Neverfull MM handbag sold for £800.

The top lot of the sale, however, was a Chanel black leather quilted double flap handbag, that doubled its lower estimate to sell for £2,000.

Also of note in the sale was a 19th Century carved polychrome doll, which sold for £1,400.

Estimated to sell for just £200-300, the little wooden doll had painted features, a delicate costume adorned with coloured shells and was formerly the property of the Duke of Hamilton.

Fans and Fancies Sale

The Costume, Accessories and Textiles Sale was preceded by the Fans and Fancies Sale on Friday, November 20.

A good-cross section of period and 20th century fans were joined by a Private Collection of sewing accessories and small fancy needlework items.

Highlights of the sale included The Lady’s Adviser, Physician and Moralist Fan dating from the late 18th century (sold for £2,000), a good large carved tortoiseshell Chinese fan from the mid to late 19th century (sold for £1,500), and a Fine Mid-18th Century ivory fan elaborately decorated with portrait roundels (sold for £950).