Father-and-son auctioneers John and Mark Gilding shared the rostrum at the firm’s latest Antique & Collectors Auction Sale in their Roman Way, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, saleroom. There was a wide diversity among the well over 600 lots before the bidders, who were highly enthusiastic on the spot, on the internet and on the telephone, following busy viewing sessions.

Demand remained high for gold and silver items, including jewellery, timepieces, cutlery and trophies. But, once again, unusual, "quirky" pieces appealed to many collectors and dealers.

Mark Gilding said: "The top selling lots under the gavel were jewellery, which given recent trends, was no surprise."

Lot 296 – a gold diamond solitaire ring – sold for £1,400 – approx 1ct, with Lot 308 – a pair of 18ct white gold single stone diamond stud earrings – £1,300 – approx 1.5ct in total, and a 9ct gold heavy-link bracelet (Lot 379) £780 – with a 9ct padlock clasp and a collection of gold and yellow metal charms.

Lot 296	Lot 308	Lot 379

Lot 315	Lot 325	Lot 240

An Omega Seamaster Deville automatic wristwatch (Lot 315) fetched £600 – yellow metal case, on a leather strap; an 18ct three-colour thread bracelet (Lot 325) £560 – the clip stamped 750; a silver trophy cup (Lot 240) £530 – London, 1904, beaker shape with leaf capped scrolled handles, 41oz; and a lady’s rose gold wristwatch (Lot 387) £520 – on a silver bracelet strap and other wristwatches, (a collection).

Lot 387	Lot 463	Lot 416

A Coastal scene painting, a nocturne, oil on canvas (Lot 463) by a follower of Oswald Achenbach made £580; and Lot 416 an oil on chamfered wooden panel £400 – by L Coignard, a pastoral landscape, signed.

Badges, brooches and other costume jewellery (Lot 368) went for £430 – in a soft case.

Lot 368	Lot 382	Lot 266

Cutlery was also popular. Victorian Fiddle pattern tablespoons (Lot 382) achieved £390 – London, 1892, engraved initials, three matching dessert spoons, three other dessert spoons of the same date, together with four table forks and three dessert forks; and Lot 266 £330 – three Victorian silver Old English pattern tablespoons, London 1895, together with a pair of matching sauce ladles and five matching spoons, engraved monograms.

Lot 338	Lot 268	Lot 247

A 9ct hallmarked gold whistle (Lot 338) realised £350 – on a long box-link chain; an Arts & Crafts hammered silver two-handled bowl (Lot 268) also £350 – Birmingham 1926, Celtic style border band, two angular handles, 15oz; a silver novelty cigarette and matchbox (Lot 247) £340 – London 1935, designed as a hayrick, cedar wood lined; a silver trophy cup (Lot 239) £335 – London, 1909, twin flying scroll handles, moulded girdle, 26oz; another silver trophy cup (Lot 238) £285 – Chester 1931, rounded bowl with twin handles, 22oz, and Lot 237 £280 – a silver two-handled trophy cup, Sheffield, 1914, rounded bowl with twin handles and a moulded girdle, 22oz.

Lot 239	Lot 238	Lot 237

Lot 625	Lot 590	Lot 583

In furniture, twenty beechwood "chapel" chairs (Lot 625) made £420 – with book rack backs; a Victorian mahogany chest-on-chest (Lot 590) £380 – with a dentil moulded cornice, plain frieze, two short and seven long graduating drawers, bracket feet; a Georgian mahogany cylinder front hanging corner cupboard (Lot 583) £300 – moulded cornice, rosewood crossbanded and boxwood stringing throughout, the doors enclosing shelves.

Lot 200 – Marx Merrymakers – tinplate and clockwork mouse band – came under the hammer for £340 – by Louis Marx & Co. Ltd., Dudley.

Lot 200	Lot 532	Lot 422

An oak longcase clock (Lot 532) made £320 – basically 18th Century, square brass dials, signed – Thos. Mankes, Chesterfield, single hand with a date aperture, thirty-hour movement, and Lot 422 £280 – an oil painting on relined canvas – W H Clark, "Warton Draughtsmen 27895," portrait of a heavy horse, signed and dated 1908

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