The first day of Spring was heralded by the arrival of the Beast From The East, but this did not deter a number of hardy souls from opting for the chilly charms of The Octagon Salerooms, East Reach, Taunton.
Indeed one of the valuers trudged for three-quarters of an hour from his village home to ensure he was on hand for the sale.
As auctioneer Derek Biss remarked there was a cracking catalogue on offer and so it proved as a number of fine prices were achieved throughout all sections of the sale.
Paintings enjoyed a particularly good set of prices. Top spot went to a portrait of a saddled bay hunter by John Boultbee.
Despite some restoration work bidding for the painting opened at £800. Sure-footed interest saw this figure climb until a phone bidder paid £3,940 to claim the attractive oil on canvas.
Boultbee was a pupil of Joshua Reynolds and his work was much admired by George III who commissioned a number of equestrian pictures by the artist. The king assigned him a residence at Windsor Park so he could carry out his artistic duties more easily.
A couple of pictures of local interest also drew excellent prices. A portrait of Ralph Oliver Allen, of Stocklinch Manor, Ilminster, circa 1898, which was consigned to the auction by descendants of the sitter, fetched £1,350 from a phone bidder.
The same £1,350 sum was also paid for a portrait of Dr John Allen of The Priory, Bridgwater. Dr Allen published a compendium of diseases in 1719. He had a wider interest in science and in 1716 sent details to the Royal Society of a ship’s log he had invented. A phone bidder bought his portrait.
The jewellery section included a pretty Victorian, gold locket back pendant on collar. This dainty item included a central line of four lapis lazuli beads with trios of split pearls between. It was bought by a phone bidder for £2,700.
Furniture has continued to do well at Greenslade Taylor Hunt and the March sale continued this trend. A room bidder bought a pair of 18th century mahogany side tales for £2,700.
An attractive Dutch walnut and floral marquetry cabinet was another hit and sold for £1,720 to a net buyer. A set of 12 George IV mahogany dining chairs, including a pair of carvers, went for £1,970.
In the ceramics section a pair of patriotic bulldogs drapped in the Union Jack flag sold for £490, while a William IV silver three piece tea service went for £1,045 and a nine carat gold cigarette case made £985.
A single owner collection of Lladro realised a combined total of £4,650.
