Double auction week over, many more to come

13th February 2022

This week's auctions sold a wide variety of items from jewellery, ceramics, furniture and a pretty collection of T. Stevens silk woven bookmarks in Tuesday's 'interiors and Collectables', to paintings, glass and enamel in Saturday's 'Fine Art, Antiques & Militaria.
Thomas Stevens first introduced his woven silk book markers in the early 1860s, with dozens of designs available within a few months. Perhaps now not so in focus for the e-book reader today, they were popular gifts at the time featuring numerous designs from religious themes, local landmarks and celebrities such as Captain Cook, to festive holidays such as Christmas and Valentine's, and their patterns, colouring, and historically interesting motifs still attract collectors today.
A local maker's handiwork took one of the top spots yesterday in the form of a Stuart Turner casting (unmarked) single cylinder pecker valve gas engine, made by the Late TR Acock of Weston Super Mare, which sold for £1600. Two further Stuart Turner models also sold in the auction for respectable prices. Although of a child's size, these models are not toys but real engines in miniature - coupled with the quality of materials used and skilled designs, they certainly deserve their current market value.