01 February 2019
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Western Models white metal cars.
Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s last sale of 2018 was in December, and auctioneer Peter Rixon reports that he witnessed a solid trade across all sections of the sale.
Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s last sale of 2018 was in December, and auctioneer Peter Rixon reports that he witnessed a solid trade across all sections of the sale. Plenty of interest was shown in the room and online and there was a good selling rate, with some strong individual prices.
Of note was a private collection of mainly Western Models white metal cars. Amongst them was a beautiful silver-grey Alfa Romeo Villa d'Este Coupe, a most unusual subject, which fetched £100; while the collection as a whole sold for a combined hammer price of just under £6,200. White metal models clearly shouldn’t be discounted when it comes to collecting. Four 1/18 scale model cars, including a very pretty Auto Art Jaguar XKSS and a Jaguar D-Type, sold for £180, while a 1/18 scale CMC Mercedes-Benz Renntransporter, although requiring attention to its window framing, still managed to fetch £130 on the day.
Tinplate space subjects are also still in vogue. A Horikawa Fighting Robot, with a clean battery compartment (an absolute must, with old tinplate) and complete with its box, was bid to £160. However, the lot which grabbed some of the greatest pre-sale attention was a small collection of modern collector's 54mm Second World War soldiers and accessories. Chief amongst them was a King & Country Vickers Mk VI B Light Tank and a Bren Gun Carrier Mk II, and the ensuing battle for ownership ending at a lofty £240.
Beyond the toys, in other areas of the sale, there were prices of £800 for a group of Ogden's Guinea Gold cigarette cards; £400 for a Palais Royal musical sewing box in the form of a grand piano; and £700 for a damaged nautilus shell hand-engraved with portraits of the Duke of Wellington and St. George and the dragon. A bizarre item, and whilst not a toy, it served to remind those present about other active collecting fields.
Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s next specialist Collector's sale will take place on 8 March but the auction house also has around 100 lots of affordable collectables every month, as part of its antique sales.