London – Bonhams smashed two world records during its London Classics season achieving record prices for an exceptional Venetian latticinio goblet, late 16th century which sold for £100,730, more than five times its estimate of £20,000-30,000 and for a significant and very rare Limehouse model of a cat, circa 1746-48 which achieved £89,300 (estimate £20,000-30,000). Both were star lots in the Fine Glass and British Ceramics Sale. The Classics, offering the finest in Antiquities, Fine Clocks, Fine Decorative Arts, Glass, Ceramics, Arms and Armour and Old Master Paintings exceeded £5.4million in total in this season's series of sales.

Nette Megens, Director of Decorative Art, Europe & UK and Head of European Ceramics, commented: "We are delighted with these results. The Classics sales bring together an exceptional array of works celebrating the history and joy of collecting. The lots offered in this series are not only of the finest quality and rarity, but many reveal wonderful stories of our past too. This season has showcased some truly exquisite pieces, and we are hugely proud to close this year with two world-records."

Zoffany portraits soar

Leading The Classics sales were a pair of rare portraits by Johann Zoffany (1733-1810) of a flower girl and a watercress girl, offered as companion pieces in the Old Master Paintings Sale. The portraits achieved £991,000 more than triple their estimate of £300,000-500,000. In the same sale, a work by Leonardo Guzzardi (1798-1800), a Portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, full-length, wearing naval full-dress uniform with the sash of the Order of the Bath, on deck with a naval engagement behind achieved £94,380 more than 15 times its estimate of £6,000-8,000.

Rare Meissen porcelain achieves top prices

Porcelain from the Meissen Manufactory, one of the most sought-after names in European ceramics also achieved top prices. The top lot of the 500 Years of European Ceramics Sale was a very rare and extensive 19th century Meissen service decorated in high relief in gilding with various scenes from antiquity which sold for £70,250 more than double its estimate of £30,000-50,000. Closely followed were select lots from the most famous and opulent service of high baroque Meissen porcelain, the Swan Service, to include a Meissen large circular dish, circa 1738-39 which sold for £40,960, double its estimate of £20,000-30,000.

Other highlights from The Classics Sales included:

• An important pair of George II walnut library armchairs 1750-1755, possibly by William Bradshaw sold for £51,200. Fine Decorative Arts sale

• An Irish Ormolu-Mounted and Enamelled Sabre Presented by The City of Dublin to Lt. Colonel Sir Ulysses Burgh KCB, 20 January 1815 sold for £20,480 more than three times its estimate of £6,000-8,000. Antique Arms and Armour sale

• A fine and very rare late 17th century French silver-inlaid ebony 'Pendule Religieuse' of small size, John Joyne, Paris, circa 1680 sold for £16,640 (estimate £10,000-15,000). Fine Clocks sale

• A Greek bronze Corinthian helmet with silver rivets sold for £127,400, five times its estimate of £25,000-35,000 and a Roman marble mosaic panel with Eros hunting a stag sold for £82,950 more than double its estimate of £40,000-60,000. Antiquities sale

6 December 2024