Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2016 | Page 56

Hose Rhodes Dickson Auction Rooms Rex Gully & Rebecca Ball: The Isle of Wight has long been a fertile breeding ground for artisans and talented craftsmen, and provided a mine of information for the authors of historical reference volumes through the ages. Ask an expert! AUCTION REPORT Our first outdoor auction at North Fairlee Farm was a resounding success, with a varied catalogue of lots ranging from gardenalia to farm machinery ensuring there was something to suit every taste and budget. The weather gods favoured us with a sunny day, which brought an enthusiastic crowd of keen bidders and ensured a lively atmosphere and some excellent realised prices. Star lots included a 1952 clinker built dinghy and a Landrover Freelander, with various other motor vehicles all selling well. This auction will be the first of many more, so keep an eye out for next year’s auction calendar for more dates for your diary. Perhaps most notable amongst the creators of collectables is Isle of Wight Studio Glass, founded in 1973 by Michael Harris and his wife Elizabeth, who had earlier founded Mdina Glass in Malta, and continued by their son, Timothy. Their eye-catching and unusual designs have fascinated collectors since the first pieces were produced in their St Lawrence studio, until its sad demise close to the 40th anniversary in 2013. Upon the closure of the studio several unique, one-off pieces entered the market as the entire archive was sold, with collectors clamouring to acquire a piece of glassmaking history, which was also guaranteed to appreciate in value. At Hose Rhodes Dickson we regularly auction pieces of Isle of Wight Glass of all shapes and sizes, but one of the most impressive items was a large vase in the rare ‘Undercliff Day’ pattern. Historically, the Isle of Wight scenery has inspired many authors and artists to create beautifully illustrated volumes detailing the topography and unique characteristics of our Island. The Victorian era saw a surge in such publications, with names such as George Brannon being amongst the star authors of the day. Many Island books are becoming increasingly collectable, and we recently auctioned two volumes that outstripped all expectations; F Calvert’s ‘The Isle of Wight Illustrated’, and Charles Raye’s ‘A Picturesque Tour Through the Isle of Wight’ sold for £620 and £1200 respectively. It is clear that the market for Isle of Wight collectables continues to go from strength to strength, and at Hose Rhodes Dickson we are well placed to attract Vectis enthusiasts on an international scale. Hose Rhodes Dickson Wristwatch Wristwatch Painting Sold for £6,800 Sold for £1,800 Sold for £3,400 Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMTMaster wristwatch An 18ct rose gold Cartier battery Tank Americaine wristwatch Painting by Girolamo Gianni (1837 - 1895) of Grand Harbour malta Book Ivory Figures Cabinet Sold for £1,200 Sold for £1,550 Sold for £1,500 ‘A Picturesque Tour Through the Isle of Wight’ by Charles Raye Four 19th Century Dieppe ivory allegorical figures A 19th Century French Kingwood bijouterie cabinet A member of our team will be more than happy to appraise items for future sales at no cost. Please call us The Auction Rooms, Quay Lane, Brading, PO36 0AT Telephone: 01983 402222 56 www.visitilife.com Oct/Nov 2016_MASTER NEW.indd 56 14/10/2016 14:38