Top selling porcelain items from the collection included a pair of 1750s Longton Hall candlestick figures that changed hands for $3360, while a Dr Wall Worcester tankard brought $2520 against $300-$500 estimate.
Typical examples of above estimate sales were a rare pair of Derby musicians that sold for $1320, a Bow figure of a Harlequin bagpiper ($960), a Worcester dessert plate ($360) and a Derby figure of a gentleman bagpiper ($900).
High prices also were paid for an exceptional 1813-1820 Flight Barr & Barr urn entitled ‘The Monk’ that sold for $2160, a late 18th century coffee cup and saucer in the manner of Sevres ($1560), a fine 1760 Chelsea plate and 1780 Chelsea imperial shepherd figure ($1320 each) and a Minton inkstand set ($1200).
The Collister furniture prices were equally impressive with a William IV four-metre long dining table selling for $11,760 against a $2000-$3000 estimate, a Victorian burr walnut davenport changing hands for $2760 and a credenza for $4320.
Pleasantly surprised at the spirited bidding for porcelain, managing director Tony Philips believes single owner collections are a strong auction drawcard with the Collister lots averaging $1000 each.
“Buyers also are keen to obtain quality Victorian furniture which is now making a comeback,” he says.
Apart from the Collister porcelain, a vendor’s Clarice Cliff collection that Philips has been slowly selling over the past few months brought good results – along with several Carlton Ware pieces including a 1929 ‘Floral Comets’ vase that sold for $1200 and a KPM figurine of a singer ($1440).
Other sections of the auction fared extremely well, with a collection of Penfolds Grange hermitage wine averaging $360-$400 a bottle and a late 19th century Louis XV style bronze clock garniture bringing $2880.
Silver was another area to attract strong buyer attention. Of the 70 lots on offer, only 18 (25 per cent) did not sell.
Good examples were a pair of octagonal pierced sterling silver sugar castors ($1440), an Israeli silver havdala candleholder ($312), a mixed antique silver cutlery service ($2400), a 1913 sterling silver pedestal champagne bucket ($1680), a large Scottish sterling silver presentation cup ($4320) and a George III pedestal coffee pot ($1800).
Philips Monday night jewellery sale brought a strong reaction to the big-ticket items including a 5.6-carat solitaire diamond that sold for $64,800.
Philips Auctions forthcoming September 6 fine and decorative arts sale features an Armadale estate including oil paintings by Albert Tucker, Bill Coleman, Frank Harding and B.E. Minns, a Vernis Martin French vitrine, papier maché painted table and French work table.