A piece of Russian porcelain and an Asian painting raised most interest at West Country auctioneers Tamlyns (18% buyer’s premium) on March 8.
As reported in last week’s issue, ATG No 2286, an imperial Russian porcelain plate from the famous Raphael Service of Tsar Alexander III, dated 1886 and bearing his cypher, attracted worldwide interest before selling to a German bidder at £5800.
A 13in long (34cm) gouache scroll painting of magpies and prunus was considerably more of a surprise. Catalogued as 20th century Japanese, it was given a perfunctory £30-40 estimate, but Bridgwater auctioneer Claire Rawle had another look and by sale day the scroll was rated a Chinese work.