Rod Kelly gold beaker shines in sale

An 18ct gold beaker by famed contemporary artist goldsmith, Rod Kelly, was one of the highlights of a recent silver sale in the Cotswolds, attracting worldwide interest and a total of £24,120 when selling to a UK-based private client.  

Rod Kelly graduated from the Royal College of Arts in 1983, having studied under Professor Gerald Benney. After setting up his workshop in Norfolk, he has undertaken commissions for members of the Royal Family, 10 Downing Street, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Latterly, Rod was commissioned to design the £5 crown to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of the Accession of Queen Elizabeth I, in 2008. 

According to Matthew Lafite, associate director at Kinghams, “After all of the interest generated by our November Silver & Objects of Vertu auction, we were delighted with the results. Specifically, the sale of the Rod Kelly beaker, and the strong bidding on the specialist private collections we offered also.” 

The sale also contained separate individual private collections of Chinese silver, and gold and silver boxes, which saw a surge in demand and record prices achieved. 

A collection of fine gold and silver boxes containing pieces from the late 17th century was a further sale highlight. The group was compiled over a lifetime by a dedicated expert collector, with a keen eye for quality. Mr Lafite explained: “This was a standout collection, containing pieces of the finest quality and extreme rarity. The collector was active from the late 1980s and selected only the best pieces from top dealers at the time. Much of the collection was acquired directly from British Antique Dealers Association (BADA) members and included items that only very seldom appear on the open market.” 

The collection total achieved almost £30,000 and saw interest from bidders from around the world. 

A hoard of Chinese silver, hidden during WWII and undiscovered for eighty years, generated significant interest from within the UK, and the Far East. In total, the Chinese silver in the sale achieved more than £10,000.