AUCTIONEERS Greenslade Taylor Hunt served up a spectacular November antiques sale with stellar prices across the board at The Octagon Salerooms, East Reach, Taunton.

Proceedings began with a buoyant jewellery section and this proved just the “amuse bouche” for a day of excellent prices.

Of note in the jewellery section was an 18-carat gold half hunter pocket watch by E Dobell of Hastings. The internet went wild for the timepiece, but it was a room bidder who emerged victorious and paid £985.

The ceramics section was dominated, literally and figuratively, by an Art Deco table lamp. Standing at 45cm tall the lamp by Josef Lorenzl for Goldscheider Pottery, the “Butterfly Girl” model, which included its original paper label, sold to an internet buyer, who paid £3,950.

Top-notch prices were achieved in the Oriental ceramics and works of art section. The best of these was a Blanc De Chine figure of Guanyin. The internet and a phone bidder fought for ownership. The net came out on top and paid £1,270.

The painting section enjoyed a number of notable prices. Top spot belonged to a portrait of a Balinese lady by Dutch artist Willem Gerard Hofker. Four phone bidders were among those aiming for ownership as bidding opened at £500. Eventually a phone bidder claimed the watercolour. The caller paid £10,500 – the top price of the day.

Other prices of interest included £1,850 for an oil on canvas of Cecily Byrne as Mary Stuart. Unsigned, but attributed to George Carr Drinkwater. Not far behind was an oil on canvas, The Shepherdess by Edwin Sherwood Calvert, which was bought by a phone bidder for £1,200.

A charming oil on board featuring a cat admiring bread and cheese and appropriately entitled Great Expe ctations was bought for £700.

A significant section of 29 paintings by Percy Drake Brookshaw proved popular, with all but one being snapped up. Together they topped £3,000.

It was a tremendous day for furniture with many items going for significant sums. A Victorian oak campaign chest was bought for £800 by an internet bidder, a small mahogany four drawer chest was secured by a room bidder for £600 and a large farmhouse curved settle went for £550 to an internet buyer. A commission bidder bought an oak joint stool for £420; meanwhile a mahogany centre table went for £400.

The day finished with a flourish with a comprehensive section of books and maps. Prices of note included £1,900 for a first edition of The Tale of Mrs Tiggy Winkle signed and inscribed by the author; an engraved county map of Somerset sold to a room bidder for £550 and a Bible circa 1635 by Barker, London, sold for £420.

A first edition of Ian Fleming’s Doctor No achieved £380, and a selection of other Bond first editions made £360. A limited edition book of drawings signed by the artist Laura Knight went for £240.

Entries are being accepted for the next sale on Thursday, December 7. Please contact the saleroom on 01823 332525.