There was ‘lots’ on offer – 1,230 in total – from Claremont Court in St Helier – all belonging to the late economist and multi linguist Dr Hugh Thurston and his surviving partner Robert Chapman.
It was a Jersey bidder who paid the highest price and is now the owner of an extremely rare set of twelve 19th century Chinese watercolour scroll paintings that went for £17,000.
A rare 18th century silver tankard – the work of Jersey silversmith Philippe Le Vavasseur dit Durrell – is also staying on the Island, bought for £6,700.
Jersey number plate J881 went for £14,000 and an oil painting by local artist Frederick Sands RI sold for £4,700 – the most his paintings have fetched.
But the biggest surprise of the day was when a Chinese embroidered robe, thought to be from the 19th Century, fetched £6,500, 65 times the estimate.
Director of Martel Maides Auctions James Bridges said: “The sale, which was double the size of most fine art auctions that we organise, was a huge but exciting challenge. There was a fantastic buzz in the room across the two days and a clear amount of competition for many of the lots from local and worldwide bidders. We had bidders from 34 different countries worldwide participating in the auction.
“The popularity and success of this sale is a testament to Dr Thurston’s skills as a collector.”
Claremont Court, just off Mont Millais, is on the market for £2,250,000. More than 1,000 people went to have a look around it in the three days before the sale at the end of last month.