Lot
45 - the P J Mene bronze which sold for £800
FOR
THE second successive year the Kennel Club Charitable Trust
Appeal auction attracted considerable interest on the fourth
and final day of the show. Like last year it raised £16,000,
the greatest proportion of which will go to the appeal.
The auctioneer was Kennel Club member Mr Nicholas Bonham of
Bonham’s of London, who was on his hind legs for almost
three hours to clear the 183 lots which ranged from pottery
and prints to paintings, bronzes and books.
This year nothing topped the £1000 mark although a 19th
century buttonhole pin featuring the head of a toy spaniel
prompted brisk bidding up to £950. Next highest was
a beautiful P J Mene bronze ‘The Open Fan’ which
went for £800 after strong competition from the floor.
Last year the ‘star of the show’ was the Gourlay
Steell original oil of the Deerhound bran which made £8500
- this year a limited edition print of the same painting was
sold for £105.
A head study in watercolour of a Pekingese by Bolton born
artist Reuben Ward Binks was knocked down for £650 to
an American buyer whilst there was also interest in several
Maud Earl photogravures portraying gundogs.
It was interesting to see some contemporary works coming into
the catalogue for the first time.
In the silver section very reasonable prices were the order
of the day as club spoons and Crufts medals moved quickly.
One buyer even paid £55 for a Kennel Club silver (1923)
napkin ring ‘honestly stolen from the club’ according
to the auctioneer! The same bidder paid £15 each (£60)
for a lot of four hallmarked silver spoons in immaculate condition.
In the books section the dealers cleaned up with a collection
of the Dog Lover’s Library series books going to America
and, for the first time, OUR DOGS Annuals appearing as a lot.
Four pre 1900 KC Stud Books sold for £185 whilst 36
more recent editions averaged £3.50 each
Lot
106 - an atmospheric over painted photograph c 1890 of
The Hawkestone Otterhounds with master and huntsmen which
sold for £100.
Lot
88 - a watercolour head study of a Pekingese by Reuben Ward
Binks which made £650
