Bonhams oak sale makes over a million

Bonhams recent Oak Interior sale smashed estimates, achieving more than £1.1 million in sales at the New Bond Street saleroom on September 20. The sale of more than 550 lots lasted for several hours, and bidders in the room, on the telephones and online around the globe competed to acquire these superb examples of oak furniture.

Highlights from the sale included

An impressive James I joined oak coffer, originally from the West Country, sold for £52,500, more than four times its high estimate of £12,000, making it top lot.

A rare polychrome-painted and parcel-gilt Royal Coat of Arms of one of the Stuart monarchs from mid-17th century to early 18th century also achieved a strong result, selling for £43,750 against an estimate of £5,000 to £8,000.

Bonhams Senior Specialist in Oak Furniture, David Houlston, said, “Achieving more than £1m was a fantastic result for Bonhams’ twice-yearly Oak Interiors Sale – indeed, it is our most successful Oak sale to date. It shows that the demand for fine oak furniture continues to be strong, and that pieces with interesting provenance and displaying unusual techniques are sought after around the world.”