Deccalian Chinoiserie Casket model for auction 26 November

[epigramophone]

This pretty little machine is coming up for auction in West Wales. Given their remote location I would have expected the auctioneers to offer a packing and postage service, but their terms and conditions state that "We do not send fragile items, heavy or large items or furniture in house. We cannot store items for longer than a week, particularly if large."

In addition the listing states that "This auction does not show current bids", so it would not surprise me if the auctioneers choose not to show the eventual sale price either. Why do some auctioneers withhold this information?

In their favour they have at least provided plenty of excellent photographs. Here are two of them :

[JerryVan]

I would be curious to know how much paint will come off when that auctioneer's lot number sticker is removed.

[Steve]

I would be curious to know how much paint will come off when that auctioneer's lot number sticker is removed.

All of it! I'm just as curious where auctioneers store their brains when it comes to respecting these antiques that have survived world wars and decades of use and often inadequate storage. These survivals should be treated with the utmost care and intelligence. Some clown sticking glued paper all over them isn't really what I'm thinking!

[OrthoFan]

For a painted surface, I know that Goo-Gone (citrus based), or similar, will remove a paper sticky label without damage, but it's advisable to test a drop on the surface first, to make sure the paint is not impacted. I've heard that saturating the sticker with WD-40 will also work, but again, testing the surface in an inconspicuous area first should be done.

I agree with you Steve about the general intelligence of some auctioneers, though I think "poop for brains" is more accurate. In this case, if I were the buyer, I'd insist that the auctioneer remove the stickers, and if there's one $#%^&#$ speck of damage, I'd demand compensation. (Actually, it's moot, since I couldn't afford it anyway... )

OrthoFan

[Curt A]

https://www.peterfrancis.co.uk/catalogu ... gramophone

[Steve]

£260 plus BP

I was the underbidder to a room bidder. Had it been much closer............

[epigramophone]

I am not surprised that it sold to a room bidder. I too was put off by the distance to collect. One that got away .

[poodling around]

I must admit that I don't understand what these Deccalian gramophones actually are but I would have paid much more than this had I been there on the basis that they seem to be very well thought of by some on here and I actually quite like this one.

[Steve]

I am not surprised that it sold to a room bidder. I too was put off by the distance to collect. One that got away .

Let's collectively console ourselves with the knowledge that it wasn't as good as Roger Thorne's example which sold for ⅔ of the price back in 2011 when prices were higher. It was missing its escutcheon, the tonearm was rusty and at least two of the painted figures were completely missing their faces. I think that the music boxes following the lot possibly added to the interest; maybe somebody in the room bought all the mechanical music items together?

[Steve]

I must admit that I don't understand what these Deccalian gramophones actually are but I would have paid much more than this had I been there on the basis that they seem to be very well thought of by some on here and I actually quite like this one.

Deccalian gramophones are table or floor standing, very high quality gramophones based upon the original "Decca" portable gramophone. Most appear to date from the 1921-23 period so were short-lived. A later and much more cheaply made range of floor standing "Decca" machines were called "Dulceola"'s, prior to the introduction of the "Salon" range from 1929 onwards, which attempted to compete with the HMV re-entrants.