Bonhams London Classics sets world records

Bonhams smashed two world records during its recent London Classics season which saw total sales achieve £5.4 million, with a pair of portraits by Zoffany demanding almost £1 million.

The two world records were for a Venetian latticinio goblet, late 16th century which sold for £100,730, more than five times its estimate of £20,000-30,000 and for a significant and very rare Limehouse model of a cat, circa 1746-48 which achieved £89,300, against an estimate of £20,000-30,000.

Elsewhere, a pair of rare portraits by Johann Zoffany (1733-1810) of a flower girl and a watercress girl, offered as companion pieces in the Old Master Paintings Sale achieved £991,000, more than triple their estimate of £300,000-500,000.

A very rare and extensive 19th-century Meissen service decorated in high relief in gilding with various scenes from antiquity sold for £70,250, more than double its estimate of £30,000-50,000

A pair of George II walnut library armchairs 1750-1755, possibly by William Bradshaw sold for £51,200.

An Irish ormolu-mounted and enamelled sabre presented by The City of Dublin to Lt. Colonel Sir Ulysses Burgh KCB, 20 January 1815 sold for £20,480 more than three times its estimate of £6,000-8,000

A Greek bronze Corinthian helmet with silver rivets sold for £127,400, five times its estimate of £25,000-35,000

A fine and very rare late-17th century French silver-inlaid ebony ‘Pendule Religieuse’ of small size, John Joyne, Paris, circa 1680 sold for £16,640 against its estimate of £10,000-15,000