BROWN furniture is out of fashion and has lost its cachet is the much-repeated mantra, but don’t be misled, the right piece is always in demand.

A walnut chest on chest with feather banded inlay was the top attraction in a strong furniture section at Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s May auction at The Octagon Salerooms, East Reach, Taunton.

An online bidder paid £2,850 for the attractive piece. It had also garnered plenty of pre-sale interest and a phone line had also vied for ownership of the handsome article.

A large Victorian pine settle, of curved form, was bought by a phone bidder for £620 and a late Victorian pitch pine “baker’s” table was bought by an online bidder for £650.

The saleroom has a growing reputation for the quality of the furniture it has going under the hammer. There are also an increasing number of buyers travelling from further afield for furniture.

The auctioneers are anticipating another strong furniture section at next month’s sale, which takes place on Thursday, June 6.

Among the items consigned is a nice campaign chest, which is believed to date from the early 19th Century. It is a lovely colour and the interior is in original condition.

The contents of a large private farmhouse will also go under the hammer so whether you want to kit out the dining room or make a statement with a four- poster bed for the bedroom there should be something to appeal. All the furniture is from a good source and is in tidy condition.

Valuer Simon Rayner said: “It is shaping up to be a good sale.”

The sale will be followed on Friday, June 7, by the second quarterly collectors’ sale of the year. Both auctions start at 10am.

For more information please contact the saleroom on 01823 332525.