The Sewing and Tunbridge Ware Sales 2011

Gathering from the feedback we have had from many of our clients the new online bidding system, organised through the-saleroom.com, was a success with 40% of bids chanelled through their live auction system.

This year we consigned some strong collections, with a broad range of rare and beautiful sewing tools and it was this quality that really shone through on both days with very few unsold lots. The auction on 29 November saw a tremendous amount of interest in the painted Tunbridge Ware and Brighton themed pieces with a pretty painted whitewood child's sewing box selling for £4,000. A cribbage board depicting a Brighton scene made £600 over a bottom estimate of £300. The stunning Palais Royal sewing box, pictured, was one of the many highlights of the Sewing Sale on 30 November making £4,600 hammer.

For those of you who know us well it will probably come as no surprise that we have already started consigning items for next year. We plan to hold two separate sales again in 2012.

If you have any queries or you would like to be included on our mailing list please contact us at rvb@bleasdalesltd.co.uk or call us on 07983 304880.

Sell Out Warwick Chair Exhibition

In an extraordinary turn of events the Warwick Chair Exhibition, which opened during our sale and viewing days was a sell out before it went on view with one collector buying all the exhibition pieces which were for sale.

This selling and loan exhibition had been inspired by the famous triangular, Saxon Warwick chair which was loaned to us with the kind permission of the Master of The Lord Leycester Hospital. The Exhibition included not only this extraordinary piece of English furniture (dating back more than 900 years) but also examined the subsequent handmade reproductions which proved so popular with the Royal family during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

We want to pass on our thanks to all those people who loaned to the exhibition and to those who helped with the detailed catalogue. All the funds raised from the sale of the comprehensive exhibition catalogue benefited the Hospital.