LAWRENCES’ first sale in their week of Spring Fine Art auctions comprised silver and objects of Vertu and, with brisk bidding online as well as in the room, the vast majority of the 475 lots found eager buyers. There were many strong results to delight vendors, too.

An early success was for a rare Irish provincial `hook end` soup ladle by George Moore of Limerick. Of elegant dimensions (37cm long) and with a swirl-fluted bowl, this easily exceeded its estimate to make £3,900.

A George IV hot water jug by the celebrated Regency silversmith Paul Storr dated from 1823 and was bid to £2,130 while those who prefer a stronger brew favoured a George II beer jug by Edward Pocock (1734). The solid but well-proportioned design attracted bids to £4,140.

Somerset County Gazette: Miniature tea pot, milk jug and sugar basin by John Whelpley of Cork

Smaller scale workmanship proved popular, too, as a miniature tea pot, milk jug and sugar basin by John Whelpley of Cork (c.1800) raced to £2,920. The teapot stood just 6cm high and would have held only a single small cup of tea but the appeal lay in the Irish origin and the exquisite high Georgian design.

Somerset County Gazette: Mixed lot of small novelty items included a tiny chandelier (6.5cm high), and toy baskets, scent bottles and chamber sticks

Another mixed lot of small novelty items included a tiny chandelier (6.5cm high), and toy baskets, scent bottles and chamber sticks. The price was far from miniscule: £2,800. Two small plain ivory tickets or passes for Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, c.1808, offered an evocative glimpse of London society from the early 19th Century and made £1,220 while a novelty Edwardian butt marker for the sophisticated shooting sportsman was in the form of small (3.4cm) cylindrical canister containing engraved ivory discs. The price shot up and bidders were flushed out at £4,390.

A small but well executed portrait miniature of Charles Edward Stuart ('Bonnie Prince Charlie') derived from an original by Pompeo Batoni found keen Jacobite collectors who took it to £1,830, but the day’s top price went to a 19.5cm wide cloisonné enamel and silver rose bowl by Wang Hing of Hong Kong. Beautifully worked and finely finished, this elegant piece from c.1900 made £8,780.

Somerset County Gazette: A 19.5cm wide cloisonné enamel and silver rose bowl by Wang Hing of Hong Hong