The traditional defies the credit crunch

Summers Place Auctions ltd, Billingshurst West Sussex
Live Auction 21st October 2008

James Rylands of Summers Place Auctions said, "If we were to split the sale into three parts new sculpture, traditional and fossil, the traditional would have performed the best. There were a lot of happy vendors from the trade and a lot more that lined the tent such as Alex and Adrian Puddy, Johnathan Barton and Will Fisher to name a few. We were happy with the sale as our core business is antique statuary and this performed well. There seemed to be an element of clients wanting to invest in solid assets in such economical uncertainty.

Nine out of the ten top lots were sold to private's, and there were a number of international buyers which reflects the international nature of our business. It seems that the credit crunch is not effecting the top end so much and in general good things are still fetching good money. Although, there seems to be a lot less players and an air of caution from buyers.

The sealed bid auction takes place on Friday 24th October, for which we have received a number of bids, but we are approaching it with a note of caution as I predict it will be patchy and a bit selective. Overall we are happy with the concept of the sealed bid, but with times as they are it seems that the lower and middle market pieces are proving more difficult to sell."



Above: A Coalbrookdale Oak and Ivy pattern seat, circa 1870, the back stamped CBDale & Co. no 30and with registration and pattern stamps, the pierced seat with retailers plate stamped J Edmundson & Co. Dublin, 152cm.; 60ins wide
Estimated Price: £3000-5000, Price incl premiums: £6875



Above: A lead shepherd boy by John Cheere, mid 18th century on stone base 132cm.; 52ins high and on associated gritstone pedestal, 220cm.; 87ins high overall
Estimated Price: £20000-30000, Price incl premiums: £28100



Above: A rare wrought iron bridge, circa 1840, 477cm.; 188ins long by 154cm.; 60ins wide tread width 81cm.; 32ins
Estimated Price: £8000-12000, Price incl premiums: £21500



Above: Antonio Frilli, An impressive carved white marble of a naked girl asleep in a hammock. Italian, late 19th century, signed A Filli, Florence on later pink veined marble plinth 122cm.; 48ins high by 190cm.; 75ins long by 61cm.; 24ins deep
Estimated Price: £50000-80000, Price incl premiums: £120500


Summers Place Auctions Ltd