Over the years numerous works by Elwell have passed through the Exchange Saleroom, but this was an exceptional lot and the record price of £25,500 reflects the importance of this work.

The painting of a domestic interior scene depicting a mother with a maid bathing children before a fire attracted a lot of interest before the auction, and on the day several bids were received from both representatives of institutions and private buyers.

In a painting of this calibre the provenance is always extremely important, and luckily this was complete from it first being exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1909 to it entering the saleroom in 2009.

Three other paintings by Elwell all made over the estimate including: 'A stormy day, Lake Como', signed on board £950; 'Woodland Waterfall', signed on board and dated 1918 £1,650, and a study of a robin laying on a snowy ground realised £550.

Reflecting the recent rise in the value of scrap precious metals every lot in the silver section sold at or above the estimate. The name Cartier always attracts interest so it was no surprise that a silver and green enamel card case, retailed by Cartier made £480. Other strong prices in this section included: A Christening tankard, Birmingham 1939, 11 ozs, £110; a Victorian sugar basket, of boat form, London 1874, 8.2 ozs £190; a late Victorian Art nouveau trophy cup inscribed 'Beverley Horse Show, 1908', Sheffield 1899, 17.53 ozs ,£275.

In the jewellery section some precious stones did not attract a lot of interest, but the same cannot be said for gold: As with all the precious metals this too has seen recent rises in its value and some very good prices were achieved. The first ten lots of gold sovereigns all sold very close to the top estimate ranging from £140 to £160. The value of 9 ct scrap gold (as at 281109) was £7.80 per gram and this is approximately the price paid for three lots: a 9ct gold bracelet, 31 grams £250; a 9ct gold double Albert 42 grams, £320 and a 9ct gold Albert 38 grams £280.

Some other good results in the Miscellaneous Section included: A Staunton chess set by Jacques & Son, London in mahogany box £370; a Victorian papier mâché tray decorated with bright summer flowers £220; an adzed oak fruit bowl by Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson £200; a collection of six 19th century shot/powder flasks £270; Four 19th century embossed brass and copper powder flasks £160. A Victorian framed example of wool stitch work in an oak frame £260.

Good prices in the ceramics section were patchy, but there were some surprises: A Royal Doulton plate, commemorating the greyhound 'Fullerton' – winner of the Waterloo Cup in 1889/90/91 and 92 made £620 and three small teapots (all a/f) one Cantonese, another 18th century Chinese and the other in the white Onion pattern made £255. Several lots of Moorcroft sold above their estimates with a vase in the Hepatica pattern making £260.

Most of the lots in the glass section sold. The top prices achieved of £240 for two 19th century overlay glass toilet water bottles and £280 for a set of three late 19th century Bohemian white cased decanters.
Good period furniture continues to hold its own and achieves strong prices, but ,as has been the case for quite a time, good to moderate lots of furniture struggle to make the prices of the last decade.
The next Antique & Fine Art Auction is on Friday 19th February, 2010 – Entries close Tuesday 19th January, 2010