Independent valuer Mark Littler with the 16th century carbine sold for £24,000 at Thomas Del Mar.
Thomas Del Mar (24% buyer’s premium) sold the first instalment of de-accessioned arms and armour from the John Woodman Higgins Museum in Massachusetts back in 2013 and a second in 2014.
This transatlantic association continues to pay dividends to the London specialist auctioneers, but not always in the manner one might expect. The top prices in their sale on June 28 were not paid for fine suits of armour but for a suite of 34 lots from the Higgins Armory of early 20th century stained glass windows created by the Zettler Studios of New York (which were pictured and discussed in News Digest, ATG No 2301).