A gilt bronze table lamp of ‘The Scarf Dancer’ by Agathon Leonard the late 19^th century French sculptor brought the day’s highest price of £3600 at Strides Chichester saleroom; this lamp was apparently produced in 3 different sizes, of which Strides was the smallest, at 30cms (12ins) high.  Estimated at £500-£700, it took the eye of a local collector who outbid several dealers in the room, followed by a persistent telephone bidder.

On the front cover of the auction catalogue was a Georgian unmarked gold and enamel pair cased pocket watch with a shagreen spare cover, with a fusee movement dated 1782 by J and J Jackson.  The vendor was encouraged to sell it in August by the auctioneers and this paid off when it sold to a furniture dealer who bought it as a present for his long suffering wife at £1800 (estimate £1000-£1200).

Silver buyers had an interesting collection to bid for.  A private buyer bought a single Georgian silver taperstick with an inverted baluster pillar with an indistinct maker’s mark, assayed in London in 1724, 10cms (4ins) high, weighing just 5ozs for £1000 (estimate £400-£600).  From the same vendor near Worthing came a pair of George III silver waiters by Thomas Hannam and John Crouch, London 1765, weighing 19ozs together which sold for £780 (estimate £400-£600).

A silver statue of Prince Albert, probably a maquette for a life size bronze statue at Tenby, was made by London silversmith Stephen Smith in1867, 16cms (6ins high) brought a flurry of bids before selling for £1100 (estimate £500-£700).

A watercolour of the River Thames in London by the prolific late 20^th century artist Edward Wesson brought plenty of interest at £1050 (estimate £600-£800).  Less desirable was a smaller watercolour of a French village street also by Edward Wesson which did well to sell for £620.

With furniture prices still unsettled, there were signs of active business with a Victorian writing table making £1300, a Victorian inlaid walnut credenza at £1500 and a set of 8 Regency mahogany bar back dining chairs on turned reeded legs going for £1400 (estimate £1000-£1500).