The first Fine Art & Antiques Auction Sale of Gildings Auctioneers 25th Anniversary year in their Roman Way, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, headquarters, proved to be extremely exciting, with a variety of high quality lots.

They ranged from ancient and historic to modern, stylish pieces, including ceramics, silver, jewellery, objets d’art, weapons, caddies and boxes, paintings, clocks, carpets and rugs, and furniture. There was a great atmosphere in the packed saleroom, but brisk bidding was matched on the internet and on the telephone. Mark Gilding was on the rostrum with strong backup from his father, John, and their staff.

Presale interest centred on a typewriter (Lot 137) which had belonged to the Reverend Charles Dodgson, as Lewis Carroll author of Alice in Wonderland. It drew interest from around the world.

But the top price on the day was £10,500 paid for a Japanese gold lacquer and shibayama cabinet on stand (Lot 317), with the typewriter fetching £6,500 – both lots exceeded their presale estimates. So did many others in this around 370 lot sale.

The cabinet, probably Meiji period, with simulated bamboo uprights, white metal facings, was fitted with a configuration of slides to the upper section, the low register with large hinged doors, slides and drawers, on an open stand, faced with chrysanthemums and scrolls, 150cm (59″) high, 108cm (44.5″) wide.

Lewis Carroll’s vintage Hammond typewriter, with two curved rows of keys, swinging type shuttle, with plywood cover, width 36cm (14″) had an immaculate provenance.

It was purchsed by C L Dodgson in 1888. At his death the machine passed to his brother W L Dodgson (extant label 18.2.98 and correspondence with the Hammond Typewriter Co. March 1908). Then it was a gift to a descendent of the vendor.

Dodgson acquired the typewriter on May 3, 1888 with a diary entry stating: "May 4, (F) Chandler came across to show me how to work the Hammond Typewriter, which arrived yesterday. "It is inscribed above the manufacturers instructions" Rev. C L Dodgson, Ch. Ch. Oxford."

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898), who under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll writer of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was a lecturer of mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford. Under his given name Dodgson, he published extensively, including Memoria Technica, Curiosa Mathematica, Principles of Parliamentary Representation and Symbolic Logic. Interestingly Dodgson had a keen interest in photography and other writing and duplicating devices.

Although Dodgson did not write his most famous Alice books on this machine, it is thought that he completed a mathematics treatise on it and also a small number of items of correspondence.

Lot 137	Lot 317	Lot 27

But the demand for all things oriental continued unabated. A Chinese shallow bowl (Lot 27) also made £6,000 – Qianlong mark and period, internal and external decoration of dragons chasing flaming pearls, in a green enamel, incised waved pattern to the exterior, six-character mark, (chips and hairline crack), diameter 18cm (7"); and a Chinese polychrome reticulated vase (Lot 58) £5,500 – bearing Daoguang six character seal mark, the body pierced, celadon with roundels of fish, the shoulder and neck decorated with flowers and foliage on a yellow ground, 41cm (16").

Lot 58	Lot 147	Lot 139

A Chinese Han style jade shield-shape pendant (Lot 147) sold for £4,000 – amber brown to celadon, pierced and carved with a curling dragon 13cm (5") on a bespoke hardwood stand; a Chinese jade mounted Cloisonne pedestal ewer (Lot 139) £3,000 – slender form with gilt metal mounts, carved jade roundels to the body and a double gourd finial to the domed lid, the body decorated with stylised flowers and symbols on a turquoise ground, old repairs, 30cm (12"); a carved light coloured jade and white metal brooch (Lot 105) £2,800 – pierced and relief carved with leaves and tendrils, unmarked, width 9cm (3.5"); and a six-piece Chinese silver tea set (Lot 88) £2,700 – Wai Kee, Hong Kong, 90 standard, mid 20th Century, engraved decoration of bamboo and birds, matted ground, comprising an oval teapot, 12.5cm (5"), hot water jug, milk jug, sugar bowl with cover, sugar tongs and an oval tray, 56cm (22"), 113oz in total (6 pieces).

Lot 105	Lot 88	Lot 37

But it was not just oriental ceramics that proved popular. A pair of Minton majolica figural two-light candelabra (Lot 37) made £5,200 – date cipher for 1864, each modelled as a standing figure wearing elaborate Renaissance-style costume holding aloft a pair of torches forming the candle holders and standing on an oval base moulded with grotesque masks, impressed MINTON numbered 1111 and 1112, some damage and losses, 53cm (21").

An oil painting on canvas by Cecil Kennedy (Lot 257) came under the hammer for £4,000 – a still life of flowers in a glass vase, signed, 51 x 41cm (20 x 16.25") indistinct exhibition label dated February 1960; and Lot 251 £3,000 – an oil on canvas by Boris Pastoukhoff, signed, Still Life of flowers in a vase 65 x 54cm(25.5 x 21").

Lot 257	Lot 251	Lot 35

A set of twelve olive-green glass wet drug jars (Lot 35) realised £3,400 – 18th Century, bottle form with rounded bowls, named: TR.CARD.S., SP. LAV.C., TR.RHATA, TR.JALAP, TR.SCILL, SP.FEPH, N.O, TR.GENT, TR.VAL.AM, A.ACETIC., SP.FETH.N.S, EL.SALUTE. and LQ.VO*C.C, the latter broken, each of slightly different size, approximately 28cm.(11").

In furniture, a Dutch burr walnut and marquetry bureau (Lot 310) achieved £3,200 – late 18th Century, decorated with an urn, flowers, birds and rococo scrolls, fall front enclosing a fitted interior with a cupboard, pigeon holes, stepped drawers and a well, shaped front with three long drawers, broad canted corners, scrolled feet, width 115cm (45"), depth 61cm (24"), height 109cm (43"); and a Victorian burr walnut breakfront library bookcase (Lot 312) £3,100 – with kingwood banding and stringing, gilt metal appliqués, inverted breakfront form, with a moulded cornice, four glazed panelled doors to the upper section, the base section with four further doors, bracket feet, length 198cm (78"), height 232cm (91").

Lot 310	Lot 312	Lot 311

A modernist bent wood chaise longue (Lot 311) also well exceeded estimate at £2,600 – designed by Marcel Breuer, probably for Isokon Furniture Co, London, unmarked, bent laminated birch seat, some damage to laminate in the seat and frame, length 145cm (57"); footnote: The chaise longue or "long chair" was advertised by Isokon as "shaped to the human body, it fits you everywhere these chairs have all the beauty of right design. Their lines express ease, comfort and well being." This chair appears to be of the earlier square ended design.

Older pieces included Lot 359 a George I style black lacquered and chinoiserie cabinet on stand which made £2,500 – basically 18th Century, the doors with ornamental escutcheons and hinges, painted with Chinese figures, pavilions, trees and birds, enclosing a well fitted interior with a configuration of ten drawers surrounding a centre cupboard, the door interiors each painted with floral sprays, the gilt stand with gesso moulded decoration, width 86cm (34"), depth 49cm (19"); a William IV mahogany freestanding bookcase (Lot 294) £2,100 – moulded cornice plain frieze, two glazed doors with pilaster uprights, tulip head capitals and leafy plinths, on a moulded platform base, width 130cm (51"), depth 38cm (15"), height 197cm (77.5"); a George III oak dresser base (Lot 353) £1,900 – single plank top, fitted with three deep frieze drawers, each with crossbanding, turned baluster front legs, length 187cm (74"), depth 51cm (20"); and a Victorian ebonised and parcel gilt stool (Lot 297) also £1,900 – floral pattern gros point needlework upholstery (damaged), moulded frieze, baluster legs with wrythen moulding, lacquered brass toes and castors, 130 x 67cm (51 x 27").

Lot 359	Lot 294	Lot 353

Lot 297	Lot 94	Lot 104

Lot 94 – an Arts & Crafts silver trumpet vase by Omar Ramsden, London 1929, fetched £2,900 – cast band with four lion masks, octagonal base with wave motifs, 29oz, 25cm (10").

More oriental items also created keen interest. Among them was Lot 104 a Cantonese graduating foliate carved bead necklace which made £2,300 – width 107cm (42"), together with a Cantonese carved ivory foliate pendant, on a boot lace strap, a pierced ivory pendant, on an amber and carved ivory bead silk work necklace, a jadeite and silk strung necklace, two other necklaces and two carved ivory pendants; Lot 376 £2,100 – a Chinese carved hardwood altar table, rectangular top, moulded scrolled outlines, the apron-pieces each carved with a dragon chasing a flaming pearl and incorporating a drawer, length 104cm (41"); and a Chinese blue and white ovoid vase (Lot 45) £1,700 – probably 19th Century, formal decoration of leaves and flowers, under a pendant band, 26cm (10").

Lot 376	Lot 45	Lot 15

A Chelsea Derby polychrome coffee can (Lot 15) realised £1,650 – circa 1760, painted with exotic birds, in the manner of James Giles, 6cm (2.25"), together with a Longton Hall polychrome coffee cup, 1750′s, painted with root flowers, (damaged), 7cm (3"), a Bow coffee cup, 1750′s, painted with flowers and foliage, under a hatched border, (chipped), 6cm (2.25"), and five others – a total of 8 pieces in the lot.

The first Fine Art & Antiques Auction Sale of Gildings Auctioneers 25th Anniversary year in their Roman Way, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, headquarters, proved to be extremely exciting, with a variety of high quality lots.

They ranged from ancient and historic to modern, stylish pieces, including ceramics, silver, jewellery, objets d’art, weapons, caddies and boxes, paintings, clocks, carpets and rugs, and furniture. There was a great atmosphere in the packed saleroom, but brisk bidding was matched on the internet and on the telephone. Mark Gilding was on the rostrum with strong backup from his father, John, and their staff.

Presale interest centred on a typewriter (Lot 137) which had belonged to the Reverend Charles Dodgson, as Lewis Carroll author of Alice in Wonderland. It drew interest from around the world.

But the top price on the day was £10,500 paid for a Japanese gold lacquer and shibayama cabinet on stand (Lot 317), with the typewriter fetching £6,500 – both lots exceeded their presale estimates. So did many others in this around 370 lot sale.

The cabinet, probably Meiji period, with simulated bamboo uprights, white metal facings, was fitted with a configuration of slides to the upper section, the low register with large hinged doors, slides and drawers, on an open stand, faced with chrysanthemums and scrolls, 150cm (59″) high, 108cm (44.5″) wide.

Lewis Carroll’s vintage Hammond typewriter, with two curved rows of keys, swinging type shuttle, with plywood cover, width 36cm (14″) had an immaculate provenance.

It was purchsed by C L Dodgson in 1888. At his death the machine passed to his brother W L Dodgson (extant label 18.2.98 and correspondence with the Hammond Typewriter Co. March 1908). Then it was a gift to a descendent of the vendor.

Dodgson acquired the typewriter on May 3, 1888 with a diary entry stating: "May 4, (F) Chandler came across to show me how to work the Hammond Typewriter, which arrived yesterday. "It is inscribed above the manufacturers instructions" Rev. C L Dodgson, Ch. Ch. Oxford."

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898), who under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll writer of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was a lecturer of mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford. Under his given name Dodgson, he published extensively, including Memoria Technica, Curiosa Mathematica, Principles of Parliamentary Representation and Symbolic Logic. Interestingly Dodgson had a keen interest in photography and other writing and duplicating devices.

Although Dodgson did not write his most famous Alice books on this machine, it is thought that he completed a mathematics treatise on it and also a small number of items of correspondence.

Lot 137	Lot 317	Lot 27

But the demand for all things oriental continued unabated. A Chinese shallow bowl (Lot 27) also made £6,000 – Qianlong mark and period, internal and external decoration of dragons chasing flaming pearls, in a green enamel, incised waved pattern to the exterior, six-character mark, (chips and hairline crack), diameter 18cm (7"); and a Chinese polychrome reticulated vase (Lot 58) £5,500 – bearing Daoguang six character seal mark, the body pierced, celadon with roundels of fish, the shoulder and neck decorated with flowers and foliage on a yellow ground, 41cm (16").

Lot 58	Lot 147	Lot 139

A Chinese Han style jade shield-shape pendant (Lot 147) sold for £4,000 – amber brown to celadon, pierced and carved with a curling dragon 13cm (5") on a bespoke hardwood stand; a Chinese jade mounted Cloisonne pedestal ewer (Lot 139) £3,000 – slender form with gilt metal mounts, carved jade roundels to the body and a double gourd finial to the domed lid, the body decorated with stylised flowers and symbols on a turquoise ground, old repairs, 30cm (12"); a carved light coloured jade and white metal brooch (Lot 105) £2,800 – pierced and relief carved with leaves and tendrils, unmarked, width 9cm (3.5"); and a six-piece Chinese silver tea set (Lot 88) £2,700 – Wai Kee, Hong Kong, 90 standard, mid 20th Century, engraved decoration of bamboo and birds, matted ground, comprising an oval teapot, 12.5cm (5"), hot water jug, milk jug, sugar bowl with cover, sugar tongs and an oval tray, 56cm (22"), 113oz in total (6 pieces).

Lot 105	Lot 88	Lot 37

But it was not just oriental ceramics that proved popular. A pair of Minton majolica figural two-light candelabra (Lot 37) made £5,200 – date cipher for 1864, each modelled as a standing figure wearing elaborate Renaissance-style costume holding aloft a pair of torches forming the candle holders and standing on an oval base moulded with grotesque masks, impressed MINTON numbered 1111 and 1112, some damage and losses, 53cm (21").

An oil painting on canvas by Cecil Kennedy (Lot 257) came under the hammer for £4,000 – a still life of flowers in a glass vase, signed, 51 x 41cm (20 x 16.25") indistinct exhibition label dated February 1960; and Lot 251 £3,000 – an oil on canvas by Boris Pastoukhoff, signed, Still Life of flowers in a vase 65 x 54cm(25.5 x 21").

Lot 257	Lot 251	Lot 35

A set of twelve olive-green glass wet drug jars (Lot 35) realised £3,400 – 18th Century, bottle form with rounded bowls, named: TR.CARD.S., SP. LAV.C., TR.RHATA, TR.JALAP, TR.SCILL, SP.FEPH, N.O, TR.GENT, TR.VAL.AM, A.ACETIC., SP.FETH.N.S, EL.SALUTE. and LQ.VO*C.C, the latter broken, each of slightly different size, approximately 28cm.(11").

In furniture, a Dutch burr walnut and marquetry bureau (Lot 310) achieved £3,200 – late 18th Century, decorated with an urn, flowers, birds and rococo scrolls, fall front enclosing a fitted interior with a cupboard, pigeon holes, stepped drawers and a well, shaped front with three long drawers, broad canted corners, scrolled feet, width 115cm (45"), depth 61cm (24"), height 109cm (43"); and a Victorian burr walnut breakfront library bookcase (Lot 312) £3,100 – with kingwood banding and stringing, gilt metal appliqués, inverted breakfront form, with a moulded cornice, four glazed panelled doors to the upper section, the base section with four further doors, bracket feet, length 198cm (78"), height 232cm (91").

Lot 310	Lot 312	Lot 311

A modernist bent wood chaise longue (Lot 311) also well exceeded estimate at £2,600 – designed by Marcel Breuer, probably for Isokon Furniture Co, London, unmarked, bent laminated birch seat, some damage to laminate in the seat and frame, length 145cm (57"); footnote: The chaise longue or "long chair" was advertised by Isokon as "shaped to the human body, it fits you everywhere these chairs have all the beauty of right design. Their lines express ease, comfort and well being." This chair appears to be of the earlier square ended design.

Older pieces included Lot 359 a George I style black lacquered and chinoiserie cabinet on stand which made £2,500 – basically 18th Century, the doors with ornamental escutcheons and hinges, painted with Chinese figures, pavilions, trees and birds, enclosing a well fitted interior with a configuration of ten drawers surrounding a centre cupboard, the door interiors each painted with floral sprays, the gilt stand with gesso moulded decoration, width 86cm (34"), depth 49cm (19"); a William IV mahogany freestanding bookcase (Lot 294) £2,100 – moulded cornice plain frieze, two glazed doors with pilaster uprights, tulip head capitals and leafy plinths, on a moulded platform base, width 130cm (51"), depth 38cm (15"), height 197cm (77.5"); a George III oak dresser base (Lot 353) £1,900 – single plank top, fitted with three deep frieze drawers, each with crossbanding, turned baluster front legs, length 187cm (74"), depth 51cm (20"); and a Victorian ebonised and parcel gilt stool (Lot 297) also £1,900 – floral pattern gros point needlework upholstery (damaged), moulded frieze, baluster legs with wrythen moulding, lacquered brass toes and castors, 130 x 67cm (51 x 27").

Lot 359	Lot 294	Lot 353

Lot 297	Lot 94	Lot 104

Lot 94 – an Arts & Crafts silver trumpet vase by Omar Ramsden, London 1929, fetched £2,900 – cast band with four lion masks, octagonal base with wave motifs, 29oz, 25cm (10").

More oriental items also created keen interest. Among them was Lot 104 a Cantonese graduating foliate carved bead necklace which made £2,300 – width 107cm (42"), together with a Cantonese carved ivory foliate pendant, on a boot lace strap, a pierced ivory pendant, on an amber and carved ivory bead silk work necklace, a jadeite and silk strung necklace, two other necklaces and two carved ivory pendants; Lot 376 £2,100 – a Chinese carved hardwood altar table, rectangular top, moulded scrolled outlines, the apron-pieces each carved with a dragon chasing a flaming pearl and incorporating a drawer, length 104cm (41"); and a Chinese blue and white ovoid vase (Lot 45) £1,700 – probably 19th Century, formal decoration of leaves and flowers, under a pendant band, 26cm (10").

Lot 376	Lot 45	Lot 15

A Chelsea Derby polychrome coffee can (Lot 15) realised £1,650 – circa 1760, painted with exotic birds, in the manner of James Giles, 6cm (2.25"), together with a Longton Hall polychrome coffee cup, 1750′s, painted with root flowers, (damaged), 7cm (3"), a Bow coffee cup, 1750′s, painted with flowers and foliage, under a hatched border, (chipped), 6cm (2.25"), and five others – a total of 8 pieces in the lot.