TODAY (Thursday, March 1) Greenslade Taylor Hunt stages its monthly antiques sale at The Octagon Salerooms, East Reach, Taunton.

It’s a busy time for the auctioneers, who will also be presiding over the first of the quarterly collectors’ sales tomorrow (Friday, March 2)

Both sales have much to appeal to both the connoisseur and the casual collector.

Today’s sale features a number of high calibre furniture items including this decorative Dutch walnut and floral marquetry cabinet. It adorns the front of the catalogue and is guided at £400-£600.
Bridgwater Mercury: GOLD: Elizabeth II proof set from 1980 guided at £1,400-£1,500

 GOLD: Elizabeth II proof set from 1980 guided at £1,400-£1,500

A other attractive piece is a George III mahogany linen press. The frieze with carved pinecone and fan motifs, above panelled doors. It has a pre-sale estimate of £300-£500.

Tomorrow attention will turn to the quarterly collectors’ sale put together under the expert eye of collectables aficionado Peter Rixon.

As ever the range of this sale is vast. It will get underway with a coin section. Among highlights from this part of the sale is an Elizabeth II gold proof set from 1980 comprising five pounds, two pounds, sovereign and half sovereign, in case of issue. This is guided at £1400-£1500.

Bridgwater Mercury: BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE: This George III mahogany linen price is guided at £300-£500

• BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE: This George III mahogany linen price is guided at £300-£500

There is a strong militaria section. Of local interest is a 19th Century portrait of a British Army officer. The oil on canvas, has a label verso which identifies the sitter as Charles Jeffreys Watson Allen (1832-1893), son of John Roy Allen of Lyngford (Taunton), The picture has come to auction via the family of the sitter by descent. It has a pre-sale estimate of £400-£500.

Bridgwater Mercury: FINE FURNITURE: This decorative Dutch walnut and floral marquetry cabinet goes under the hammer at Greenslade Taylor Hunt today (Thursday). It has a pre-sale estimate of £400-£600

• FINE FURNITURE: This decorative Dutch walnut and floral marquetry cabinet goes under the hammer at Greenslade Taylor Hunt today (Thursday). It has a pre-sale estimate of £400-£600