They commanded huge interest among dealers and collectors when they came under the hammer following extremely well attended viewing sessions. John and Mark Gilding – father-and-son – shared the rostrum dealing with bidders in the room, on the internet and on the telephone.

Even the dull, wet spring weather did not dent the demand initiated at viewing, building up to the sale day itself.

Lot 431	Lot 429	Lot 432

Lot 433	Lot 300A	Lot 435

It was Lot 431 – a 1988 Britannia Mint four coin gold set (2332) – that achieved the top price of £1,900, followed closely by Lot 429 – £1,800 for a 1991 Solomon Islands mint four coin gold set (494); £1,400 for Lot 432 – 1986, 1989, 1991 mint double Sovereign three coin set (099); £1,150 for Lot 433 – 1989 £5 brilliant uncirculated gold coin (02121); £1,100 Lot 300A – set of twelve modern silver pedestal goblets, all boxed as new; £1,050 Lot 435 – 1992 brilliant uncirculated £5 gold coin (0390), and £1,000 for Lot 369 – £5 gold proof Queen Elzabeth I Anniversary Coin – 2008, (a box).

Lot 369	Lot 430	Lot 434

A 1988 Britannia Mint three coin gold set – Lot 430 – (2555) fetched £750; Lot 434 £700 – 1988 and 1989 two Pitcairn mint gold coins, (0077 and 0123); Lot 387 £580 – Bermuda 60 dollars silver kilo coin – 2006 (boxed); Lot 426 £460 – two Royal Mint Sovereigns – 1991 and 1992, (2547/3966); Lot 428 £440 – 1988 Eastern Caribbean silver mint six coin set; Lot 370 also £440 – Elizabeth II two pound gold proof Charles Darwin coin – 2009, boxed; and Lot 427 £420 – two Royal Mint Solomon Islands 50th Anniversary gold coins – 1992, (0128/0233).

Lot 387	Lot 426	Lot 428

Lot 370	Lot 427	Lot 44

Interest continued after the sale day itself as Mark Gilding explained: "In the following 24 hours sales in excess of £5,000 were negotiated for a variety of lots, including pictures, furniture and, in fact, more coins, so it was highly successful for sellers and buyers alike. This can be an important service when some lots perhaps fail to reach their reserve, or for other reasons do not sell immediately in the room."

Oriental ceramics and other items maintained popularity with bidders at the auction too with Lot 44 achieving £950 – two Chinese polychrome vases of square section, painted with birds on branches; and a Cantonese style ivory visiting card case (Lot 275) £600 – decorated with figures and buildings.

Lot 275	Lot 543	Lot 68

Bidding was also lively for other items. A French king wood and gilt metal mounted commode (Lot 543) made £550 – Regency style, vein marble top, deep frieze, fitted with three drawers, ornamental gilt metal bail handles, straight tapering and bracket feet; a Georgian satinwood and rolled paper oval tea caddy (Lot 68) £550 – straight sided form; a George III style mahogany extending dining table (Lot 596) £375 – in part 19th Century; and a William IV oak and mahogany longcase clock (Lot 570) £360 – arched painted dial, signed – Shakespeare, Burton, the spandrels painted with gun dogs, the lunette with a huntsman, thirty-hour movement.

Lot 596	Lot 570	Lot 305

Other silver pieces commanded attention in this sale too. A Victorian presentation circular salver (Lot 305) fetched £550 – London 1869, moulded piecrust and shell scrolled edge, engraved decoration on four scrolled feet; a Victorian circular silver rose bowl (Lot 343) £410 – Sheffield, 1895, shallow form, embossed decoration of foliage and scrolls; and Lot 344 £310 – an Edwardian silver pedestal rose bowl, Birmingham 1903, embossed decoration of scrolls and foliage.

Lot 343	Lot 344	Lot 251

A collection of bat printed cups, cans and saucers (Lot 251) achieved £460 – together with other English porcelain coffee cans, cups and saucers, all circa 1800 (a large collection); and Lot 599 £340 – reproduction Bevan & Funnell oak dining room suite, comprising a draw leaf dining table, trestle ends and a set of ten wavy ladder-back chairs (11 pieces in lot).

	Lot 599

There was also demand for silver, gold and, as always, for more unusual items. Viewing sessions were again extremely busy too, offering collectors a welcome opportunity to track down their sought after treasures.

A number of lots achieved higher prices than their presale estimates, a clear indication of the lively demand among dealers and collectors alike, whether on the internet or the telephone or in the enthusiastic saleroom, when well over 700 varying lots were offered.

Top price in this sale was £4,000 paid for Lot 112 – Chinese green ground baluster vase, painted in famille rose enamels, with a collection of Chinese polychrome decorated wares. A Chinese white metal parcel gilt and niello ware cylindrical box (Lot 323) made £850 with two Indian white metal boxes (3 in lot).

Lot 112	Lot 323	Lot 470

A yellow metal necklet (Lot 470) fetched £950 – indistinctly marked, table linked, boxed; a three-piece silver tea set (Lot 336) £580 – Chester, 1914-15, circular form with moulded girdles, including a covered jug, 21oz gross and a circular silver salver, Sheffield, 1913, lobed beaded and cast outline, raised on three ball and claw feet, 18oz (4 pieces), and Lot 407 £440 – Lady’s International Watch Co automatic wristwatch on an 18ct bracelet strap.

Lot 336	Lot 407	Lot 676

Furniture proved of great interest too. Lot 676 made £550 – William IV mahogany side table, fluted legs (reduced) and another, similar, adapted (2); Lot 671 £550 too joined oak mule chest, in part 18th Century, hinged lid, three panels to the front, fascia with a drawer under, carved decoration, and Lot 629 £420 – Edwardian inlaid mahogany display cabinet, marquetry decoration and satinwood banding and stringing, glazed panel doors to the upper section, bow front base section with a panelled door.

Lot 671	Lot 629	Lot 283

Unusual lots always attract attention and this sale proved to be no exception when Lot 283 went under the hammer for £420 – Cassius Clay: "I am the Greatest" signed photograph which was well above the estimate; and from an earlier era Lot 35 £320 – Parliamentary Secretary’s morocco Despatch Box, marked "Board of Trade", Edward VII cipher with initials – H.J.T. (Harold Tennant), Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in Asquith’s Government.

Lot 35	Lot 12	Lot 607

Timepieces of all kinds are popular too. A reproduction George II style burr walnut bracket clock (Lot 12) went for £420 – by Elliott of London, Westminster Whittington chimes, on eight gongs; an oak cased Daytime recorder (Lot 607) £380 – with a wheel mechanism, white enamelled dial signed Howard Bros. London; a Dutch "Staarklock" wall clock (Lot 643) £360 – with painted brass finials, appliqués to the painted and arched dial, weight driven movement; Lot 493 £320 – yellow metal pocket watch, silvered dial, on a 9ct hallmarked gold single Albert; and Lot 638 £280 – an oak and mahogany longcase clock, square painted dial signed "Jno Fox, Great Easton", thirty hour movement.

Lot 643	Lot 493	Lot 638

Lot 105	Lot 33	Lot 482

More Oriental ceramics also saw brisk bidding. So did jewellery. A pair of Satsuma ovoid vases (Lot 105) achieved £400 – decorated with figurative scenes, three-character seal marks; Lot 33 £380 – Cantonese bottle vase, painted with birds, insects and flowers in polychrome enamels, matched domed lid; Lot 482 £360 – yellow metal opal and diamond bar brooch, set with three cabochon opals; Lot 472 also achieved £360 – a micro-mosaic and cameo brooch, yellow metal opal set pendant on a trace link chain and other costume jewellery; Lot 411 £320 – platinum diamond solitaire ring, the centre stone approx 0.45ct, with additional stones to the shoulders, and Lot 436 £280 – a 9ct hallmarked gold three-colour twist wedding band, a 9ct buckle ring, an 18ct solitaire ring and other dress rings (9 in lot).

Lot 472	Lot 411	Lot 436

Lot 735	Lot 341	Lot 732

A figured walnut cocktail cabinet (Lot 735) sold for £320 – domed top, blonde wood interior, cupboards under; an Italian marquetry work jewellery casket (Lot 341) also £320 – and a large collection of costume jewellery; an oak coffer (Lot 732) £300 – in part 18th Century, hinged lid, carved front fascia with three panels, and Lot 440 £280 – a George IV Crown – 1822, Victorian crown – 1845, six other Victorian Crowns, two Victorian Half Crowns and two Victorian Florins.

	Lot 440