THE clearance of three local estates made for an interesting antiques and collectables sale at Tavistock Auction Rooms last week. A Wellington chest of drawers with an unusual hinged top went beyond its top estimate to go to the West Country Trade, against several telephone bidders, for £1,700. A sketch of a Ring Master, drawn in 1930 by Laura Knight, reached £350 ? the purchaser being the great-nephew of the subject who discovered the sketch on Ward and Chowen?s website. Gleaned from several boxes of dilapidated tools, crocks and oddments entered for the household auction were three rusty corkscrews and a hook. The die-hard collectors and a local trader fought over them before many bewildered onlookers for them to fall finally for £300. Among other items, a silver coffee pot by John Kidder made £620, an Art Deco cocktail cabinet went to London Furnishing Trade for £600 and a revolving bookcase went to a local resident for £400. RIGHT: Neil Woolcock, of Ward and Chowen, with the Wellington chest of drawers.
