MANY ROYAL GIFTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 22, 6 November 1940, Page 5

MANY ROYAL GIFTS.

ART OBJECTS AUCTIONED. PROCEEDS FOR RED CROSS. LONDON, October 8. Over £84,000 was raised for the Red Cross in London during a 14 days’ auction sale. Proceeds from bullion and objects sold elsewhere brought the total to nearly £150,000. Among those on the committee responsible for the sale were Sir Hugh Walpole and Lady Willingdon. The King and Queen led the way by making donations for auction. The King’s offering was a George 111. silvergilt two-handled cup and cover. It fetched £260. A silver-giit tea service sent by the Queen was bought by Mr Joseph Kennedy, the American Ambassador, for £3OO. The service weighed 390 z., and was among the first pieces of silver to be hall-marked with the Silver Jubilee mark in 1935. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester sent a pair of two-handled cups having the Dublin hall-mark for 1765. They realised £55. ,

Altogether nearly 3000 treasures were subscribed by the public, and there were many American bids by proxy for them. One of the most important articles to be sold was a collet necklace of 31 large diamonds. The opening bid was for £SOOO and the final one £11,600. A tortoiseshell fan sent by Queen Mary was sold twice. The first time it brought 190gns, aiul the second time 140 gns. Queen Mary also sent a sapphire and diamond brooch formed as a knot of ribbon. It went lor £175.

The top price for the last day of the sale was £376 10s, given for two papercovered books, formerly the possessions of Field Marshal Gooring. Each bore his signature and numerous manuscript notes.