A rare version of one of the most popular of Beswick farm figures, this shire horse in a piebald gloss finish, right, pulled its weight at The Auction Centre (16% buyer’s premium) in Runcorn on March 18.
Shire Horse, model 818, was one of the designs by the great Arthur Gredington, who became chief designer at the factory in 1939. It was produced in 14 different colours and became Beswick’s longest production run – hence the availability of popular examples for as little as £30.
The black and white mare being the rarest, this 8½in (21.5cm) high model in excellent condition and dating to the 1950s-’60s was the attraction of a lot which included another shire horse and a Victoran Copeland vase catalogued as a/f. Estimated at £800-1000, it sold to a collector from Warrington at £1900.