The Auction House - Series 2: Interesting Lots

6 February 2015

The Dog Beds
Dogs are always welcome at Lots Road. Sunday’s Auction Day sees contented canines nestled at the feet of their owners.  So there was no doubt that these two beautifully constructed dog thrones would stir up some interest. 

Initially sold by Harrods they would have retailed for thousands.  At Lots Road, the four-poster pagoda with yellow and red satin bedding, made of gorgeous hardwood was valued between £800 and £1,200.  Whilst the even flashier gold four poster bed, made from French mahogany and finished with gold satin bedding and a spray of acid green ostrich feathers, was valued at between £1,000 and £1,500.

 

The Hermes Kelly Bag

The Auction House’s specialist handbag valuer recognizes the power of the designer handbag: a living piece of art carried by elite ladies from all over the world.  If it is the right make and well looked after, a handbag can retain much of its value. None more so than star lot: the Hermes Brown Crocodile Kelly Bag.  A perfect example of 1960’s design, the Hermes is a long established status symbol amongst the upper echelons of society. Complete with its original key fob, stamp and dustbag, this one was valued at a staggering £6,000 to £8,000.

 

Taxidermy (the Beaver)

Well executed stuffed animals - or taxidermy - is all the rage with London’s elite. Many unusual animals costing upwards of thousands of pounds are currently gracing some of the most salubrious homes and establishments in Kensington and Chelsea.  Once the province of the older generation who preserved their kills after shooting parties, this new craze has been embraced by the young for their homes, fashion shoots, parties and theatre.

 

Lots Road specialises in sourcing the best of taxidermy, turning away badly finished items, which can spoil and smell.  This naturalistic and well-preserved marmot, almost identical to a beaver, attracted quite a bit of attention.

 

The Dragons

This pair of sturdy proud Oriental style, bronze dragons would entice or frighten visitors to any home with their hissing, open clawed stance. Standing at 120 cm, they were valued at between £500 and £800 and placed in the antiques department. They are typical of the weird and wonderful - and often unusual items to be found amongst the furniture at Lots Road.

 

The Skulls

The Auction House has long had a reputation for selling incredible animals, be they painted, sculpted or preserved from the real thing. Capitalising on the ever growing demand for horns, antlers and skulls seen decorating the walls of the country’s most fashionable homes and businesses, these amazing specimens have been spectacularly finished, polished and mounted, by an ex game keeper.  They were ethically sourced from an African safari resort - the remains of a lion or other predator’s lunch. Out of the three on display, the Wildebeest mounted on a perspex stand probably got the most attention in the Auction Room, valued at between £200-400. It was very reasonably priced according to the market value, but would it go for more once the bidding started?

 

The Liz Hurley Jacket

Lots Road has recently started taking in particularly special items of clothing.  Brought in by a Lots Road regular, this jacket was the accompaniment to the famous Versace safety pin dress worn by Liz Hurley to the premier of Four Weddings and a Funeral with Hugh Grant in 1994.  The owner split the outfit with Liz in the store, but never actually wore it, so it had lain untouched in her home since the 90s.

The Sleigh
It’s not all designer goods and gilt mirrors at the Auction House. This Christmas, they've acquired an unusual hand painted 19th century Scandinavian sleigh.  Brought in by 19-year-old wunderkind dealer William Potts, one luck customer could be tobogganing out of the auction rooms this Christmas.

The Christmas Gifts

At the annual Christmas gift sale, The Auction House was bursting with glittering items that were perfect seasonal presents for the discerning Chelsea resident.  As well as handbags, the Auction House also does personal jewellery valuations, perfect for the lady who has tired of an item, but fancies something new herself.  Amongst this seasons’ sparklers were:

 

A beautiful diamond and emerald ring, sourced all the way from India.  A colourful delight of three Tiffany gem stacking rings.  A Cartier Black Diamond Bracelet, Graff Diamond hoop earrings - as well as creations from top jewellery designers such Hattie Carnegie, Asprey and Valentino, alongside Yves Saint Laurent haute couture were enough to get any jewellery lover’s heart beating.