Wildlife artist Steve Burgess leads sale

A painting of an African elephant by renowned wildlife artist Steve Burgess (b.1960) was the top lot at the recent Modern Living Sale by Cheltenham auction house Mallams.

The signed, oil on canvas proved very popular amongst bidders and sailed past its £700-£1,000 estimate, eventually selling to a UK trade phone bidder for £2,600.

The same bidder also sealed the deal on another Burgess signed oil painting entitled Study of a cheetah and three cubs, with a winning bid of £1,900.

A linocut by the Nigerian printmaker, painter and sculptor, Bruce Obomeyoma Onobrakpeya (b.1932), was an unexpected hit amongst bidders. Basket of flowers, signed and dated December 1965, had a very conservative estimate of £40-£60 but some strong, competitive bidding pushed this ever upwards, with an online UK trade buyer placing the final, successful bid of £2,400.

Also proving popular was a handsome walnut sideboard with two drawers over fielded panel doors. Attributed to Philip Speakman Webb (1831-1915) for Morris & Co, this lot sold to a UK bidder for its low estimate of £2,000.

Another item of note was an Edwardian 18ct gold cased pocket watch bearing marks for Sheffield, 1901, which sold for £1,400 against a guide of £600-£800.