CHISLEHURST.- A Rolex stainless steel GMT Master 'Pepsi' automatic calendar bracelet wristwatch with dual time zone, along with its original receipt from 1970 and service history was sold for £22,320* by Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 in a sale of Antiques & Collectables at Farleigh Court Golf Club, Selsdon in Surrey. Purchased in April 1970, the watch was estimated to fetch £8,000-10,000 but was bought by trade buyer after fierce competition between telephone, room and internet bidders. In the same family since its original purchase, the watch had been discovered by Catherine during a valuation day last year at the sale venue [lot 356].

The second highest price of the sale was for an Egyptian sandstone relief fragment of a goddess that sold for £11,160 to a UK buyer against an estimate of £800-1,200 [lot 42]. Also from the same deceased estate was an intriguing 4,000 year-old Egyptian wooden headrest that dated from the 6th Dynasty (2360-2195BC) and fetched £7,440. Measuring 17cm high and 18cm wide, it was estimated at £6,000 - 8,000 and purchased by an overseas buyer [lot 43].

More items from the same estate sold very well; a rare copy of Confucius Sinarum Philosophus Sive Scientia Sinensis Latine Exposita, dating from 1687 realised £6,820. Comprising four parts in one volume, the book was estimated at £2,000 - 3,000 [lot 635], while a Japanese Meiji period carved wood netsuke of a monkey and her baby which sold for £5,952 against an estimate of £100-150. Measuring 1.4cm, it was purchased by an international buyer [lot 136].

An attractive Georgian foil backed deep blue paste pendant drop necklace realised £4,836 against an estimate of £200-300 and was bought by a UK buyer in the room [lot 402].

After the sale, Catherine Southon commented: “We were delighted with our first sale of the year which showed strong results across all categories."

Elsewhere in the sale; a George III mahogany serpentine fronted chest of drawers that sold for £5,580 to a UK buyer and was part of another estate in the sale (est: £500-800) [lot 8], while a large diamond-set floral clip brooch by Boucheron, circa 1940 within its original box fetched £5,208 and was bought by a UK buyer. It had been consigned by a private collector and was estimated at £500-800 [lot 419], and a large and fine late 19th century Swiss Black Forest carved dog group of a St Bernard attributed to Walter Mader sold for £4,960 against an estimate of £800-1,200. It had been consigned by a private local client and was bought by a UK Buyer [lot 66].

Two of the highest prices among the paintings was an oil on canvas titled Three masted vessel on open seas by Yorkshire-born Marine painter Thomas Jacques Somerscales (1842- 1927) that sold to an International buyer for £3,968 against an estimate of £3,000-5,000 – it been discovered at a valuation day in Chislehurst [lot 92]; while large original musical-related watercolour illustration by satirical cartoonist Ronald William Fordham Searle CBE HRWS (British, 1920- 2011) titled Coughs cannot always be totally suppressed, also sold for £3,968 to an overseas buyer against an estimate of £2,000-3,000. It was being sold on behalf of a local private collection [lot 101].