Auction season ends with a surprise!

The small enamelled plaque by A.C.C Jahn created quite a stir and quickly flew to £1,000, then £2,000, and just as the hammer was about to go down at £3,200, another bidder entered the race, and in £100 bids the result a surprising £4,400.

“We thought it might do well,” said Ballymoney’s Gerry McAfee. “But we didn’t realise just how well, and the owners who were in the room were needless to say ‘delighted with the outcome’.”

Following a busy last quarter, ending in a sale a week for the last three weeks, the Auction department had many other surprises as more and more private purchasers from North and South make to our sale rooms, and the strength of the internet brings many buyers from further afield.

Among the many items offered for sale recently was a further collection of works from the family of the late Rev W. J Watson, when a carving of Desert Orchid realised £1,000, and an oil titled ‘Beagles at the Hunt’ realised £800, a conte crayon £925, and a smaller of a donkey £425.

A marble bust which realised £1150 at the Fine Furnishing sale at Ballymoney was one of the many things which created a lot of interest as did a large collection of gold and silver, particularly gold jewellery which is really selling well, and interesting pieces of silver.

Although ceramic values have taken a tumble smaller pieces of furniture have picked up and demand is good for large dining room tables and 8-12 chair sets.

A large collection of miniatures from a Londonderry estate also received strong interest with prices peaking at £780 for a set of 4 in a folding frame.

Last weeks sale also achieved £450 for a rocking horse £470 for a set of Francis Clarke plaques and £180 for a J.W Carey watercolour.

McAfee Auctions next sale of antique and general furnishings takes place in their Ballycastle Auction Rooms on Friday the 16th January, and good quality antiques and general furnishings, collectibles, coins, silver and jewellery are now being accepted for the next Ballymoney sale.

Further details from McAfee Auctions on 028 276 67669