Cushion cover causes stir in Shropshire

An early 19th-century Chinese silk cushion cover caused a stir when it sold for £6,500 at Shropshire auction house Trevanion and Dean’s recent sale.

Discovered in the loft of a local country house, the cover was identified by Asian Arts valuer Ashley Jones as a Chinese silk embroidered throne cover circa 1800. The vivid yellow silk panel was bought by a Chinese buyer, and was swiftly followed by a Chinese court robe (which, despite extensive damage) was sold for £4,400.

Elsewhere in the sale, a huge collection of Beswick animals sold for £21,000. Auctioneer Christina Trevanion said, “The collection was found hidden in the loft of a bungalow in the heart of Shropshire.” Once discovered, the entire collection was unpacked for the first time in years and given a wash. “When we first saw the collection it covered the entire floor of four rooms, it was quite extraordinary! It took a lot of sorting, examining and cataloguing but it was all worth it.”  Interest in the collection saw Beswick collectors flock from around the country, alongside strong bids from America, New Zealand and Australia.

Jewellery and watches also performed well, with a Patek Philippe wristwatch securing the top price of £3,100 within the section. “Wristwatches are proving a timely investment for collectors, it is an area which has seen year on year price increases proving a sound and beautiful purchase for savvy investors,” explained Christina.