Smiths Auction Rooms in Newent have been flooded with good quality entries for their 21st & 22nd of September sale.

The standard of items which have come through the door this last week has been higher than normal with a good cross section of interesting and beautiful pieces, which it is hoped, will make the September sale one of the best of the year.

The autumn is traditionally one of the ‘hottest’ times of the year to sell antiques and collectables at auction, as dealers and collectors return to the market with renewed enthusiasm after a summer break.

Some of the most valuable entries have been in the jewellery and silver sections of the sale.

A very attractive Art Nouveau style 18 ct and 22 ct gold bracelet is designed as a row of eleven poppy flowers, each set in platinum with a diamond to the centre.

The bracelet is made to the highest quality and has been estimated at £3,000/£4,000.

Other pieces from the same vendor include a very desirable Art Deco style aquamarine and diamond ring estimated at £700/£900 whilst a fine asymmetrical designed diamond ring looks stunning on the finger and is expected to make £1,800/£2,500.

Oriental entries to the sale have included a good variety of Chinese ceramics including a fine Qing Long famille rose teapot estimated at £400/£600 and a handsome Qian Long blue and white large coffee pot estimated at £300/£500.

In contrast to these more decorative items there are some older plainer pieces such as an attractive double gourd form ‘Sang de Boeuf’ glazed vase (which translates as ‘Ox Blood glaze’) and is estimated at £300/£500.

Smiths now employ a specialist valuer and are holding more regular oriental sales to make the most of this currently very buoyant market.

Prices for Chinese antiques can often leave estimates far behind on sale day as buyers compete fiercely in order to export the items back to China.

The European ceramics and glass section is not without it’s highlights including a beautiful Vienna porcelain plate painted with a portrait of a young girl and a French Art Nouveau Muller Freres pink and mauve mottled long necked glass vase.

A large Wedgwood ‘Florentine’ dinner service is one of the more desirable patterns on the market, estimated at £500/£700, it is hoped it will attract strong interest and do far better on the day.

The September sale features a watch section which is also another very popular area of the market and a number of good quality entries include an Omega Speedmaster Professional watch estimated at £1000/£1500.

This iconic watch dates from 1969 when it was bought by the current owner and is famous for being the watch which was used by the astronauts on the first moon landing.

Other vintage watches in the sale include a 1960’s Tudor Rolex Oyster wrist watch bought for the vendor by his mother for his 21st birthday.

One of the more surprising entries was an Olympiad enamel and purple rosette officials badge from the 1940 Tokyo Games which had to be cancelled due to WWII.

The owner was absolutely amazed to find that this was a rare and highly collectable item and although it is estimated at £600/£800 it is hoped that it might even reach four figures. Since the owner had nearly thrown it in the bin, it just goes to show that some of the more unusual collectables you might find when having a clear out are worth bringing to Smiths Auctions just to get them checked out.

Smiths are hoping for more good quality entries including silver, jewellery, gold, paintings, ceramics, glass and collectables. The sale has specialist sections for watches, clocks and oriental items.

The deadline is Tuesday 5th of September.

Smiths are also inviting coin and note entries now for their very popular coin sale in January. Please telephone 01531 821776 or visit www.smithsnewentauctions.co.uk.