Peter Francis auctioneers – Post auction report

A large group of old postcards, that represented a lifetime of collecting for a local seller, generated huge interest at the Summer Fine Catalogue Auction at Peter Francis in Carmarthen on June 19.

Offered in five lots, close to 2000 post cards of Welsh interest smashed estimates to bring over £4500. Just over 600 cards depicting the landmarks and the personalities of late 19th and 20th century Carmarthen – a real tour around the town – sold at £1300 while a lot of two albums comprising around 280 cards covering the towns and villages of Carmarthenshire took £1150. Subjects included Ammanford, Laugharne, Llandeilo, Llandovery, Llansteffan, Llanybydder, Pencader and Pendine.

The firm has a strong track record selling Welsh pictures in a market that has been fickle of late. The top price was provided by the catalogue cover lot, an oil on board titled White cottage, North Wales by Royal Cambrian Academy member Donald McIntyre (1923-2009) sold at £4200. Measuring 52 x 62cm it carried a label for the Attic Gallery in Swansea where Mcintyre – a Scotsman who left dentistry to make a living as a full-time painter in the 1960s – held a solo exhibition in 2003.

A panoramic watercolour of West Pembrokeshire, signed and dated 1973 by John Knapp-Fisher sold at £1600, a sum matched by a small oil study of a Welsh bob titled Little Horse by Aneurin Jones (1930-2017).

Sir John Kyffin Williams (1918-2006) was represented by Merddyn Yr Groes, a limited edition print numbered 120 of 150 and signed in pencil that sold at £720.

Prints were predictably led by two examples by LS Lowry. The multi-figure scene Peel Park, published in 1975 by Venture Prints of Bristol with Fine Art Trade Guild back stamp sold at £4100 while Sailing Boats took £1700.

A Dillwyn pottery canary yellow and silver lustre jug was of interest for an inscription celebrating the victory of John Owen of Orielton in the notorious 1812 Pembroke election. Although in poor condition, it sold at £800.

A Llanelly blue and white coffee pot sold at £420 was also a documentary piece. In addition to transfer printed decoration on a maritime theme was the hand painted dedication ‘A present for Mary Jones Llanelly 1880’.

Another popular entry was a large 36cm early 20th century Ewenny pottery model of a seated black cat sold at £700 while there was predictable interest in a Royal Crown Derby tea and coffee service for six in the Royal Antoinette pattern that doubled hopes at £1000.

Clocks and furniture that opened the sale saw good trade and some spirited bidding from a ‘standing room only’ audience. Very much to current fashion are the early 20th century upholstered chairs and sofas by Howard & Sons of Berner Street, London. A low easy chair marked for Howard to a caster bought in to a general sale but upgraded by the auctioneers to this select event took £1700.

Most longcases sold on estimate, topped by an eight-day painted dial clock by RJ Isaac of Llanelly with a rocking ship automaton at £950.

One of the great toys of the inter-war years – a 52cm clockwork tinplate model of the fire engine red Alfa Romeo P2 Grand Prix racing car made by the French toymaker Compagnie Industrielle du Jouet sold at £1700. Made shortly after the full-size version won the first European Championship in 1925, this handmade luxury plaything was the gift every well-to-do child hoped to open on Christmas day. It featured many realistic features including rubber Michelin tyres, rack and pinion steering, opening filler caps and a working external brake lever.

Also in the ‘boys’ toys’ category was a one owner collection of three Triumph motorcycles realised a total of £16,200 with the beautiful 1970 Bonneville T120 leading the whole day at £8000. It sold to a local collector and, recently restored, is probably too good to ride.

Managing director Nigel Hodson described the sale as “almost like the ‘old’ days with plenty of bidders filling all available seats, rather than staying at home and bidding online”.