Works by Brian Shields or ‘braaq’, as many know him, were selling well at Morphets’

recent Christmas Catalogue Sale.  Shields is remembered by many in the area as a young man who arrived in Harrogate from his home city of Liverpool, to work in the local hotel and restaurant trade.  Eventually growing recognition of his talent as an artist enabled him to paint full-time. 

Now his work is known and appreciated much, much further afield and is collected by enthusiasts all across the UK and abroad.  Shields passed away in 1997 but as he was a prolific artist his work turns up fairly regularly for those wishing to collect.

The two paintings illustrated here are typical of his city landscapes and street scenes; the oil on board entitled ‘Hoopla, Hoopla’ went to an internet bidder at £6,400 and ‘Fight Outside the Church’ took a final bid of £5000.

Removed from a local chemist, this large Victorian painted glass pharmacy specie jar and cover was keenly contested and finally went to a telephone bidder at £2,050. 

A collection of archives relating to Winifred Gerin and her work relating to the Bronte Family and others more than doubled the pre-sale estimate to sell at £1,100 and also amongst the books, a private collection of art related titles and over seventy A & C Black publications sold well with the highest price going to a limited edition facsimile sketchbook by Pablo Picasso. 

Another unusual lot amongst the ceramics was a Russian porcelain propaganda plate from the 1920s, marked with the State Porcelain Factory and painted with a portrait of Lenin and the Cyrillic slogan ‘Those who do not work, do not eat’ sold at £700.

Despite the current down turn in interest in antique furniture, a closely matched set of fourteen Victorian mahogany balloon back dining chairs realised a very creditable £1,300 given the need for restoration, the price probably reflecting the ensuing Christmas Festive season (and the need for extra seating) more than a return to the good old days of furniture prices.  From the same vendor, a large Victorian extending dining table realised £1000 despite having a replaced top and leaves.

The bidding was briskly up to £900 for a small 17th century oak boarded chest and a two items of typical Victorian ‘brown’ furniture sold at £800 for a figured mahogany and glazed two door bookcase and  a concave sideboard of super quality but unfashionable design, at £680.

Silver was selling well, with a George V two handled tray,  weighing 176 ozs at £1,100 and a canteen of late Victorian silver fiddle pattern cutlery 90ozs of weighable silver, sold at £1,300.  A Victorian silver boat shape tureen and cover, Sheffield 1896, at 50ozs sold for £850.

With gold at its highest price for 30 years, prices were buoyant, a 9ct gold cigarette case sold for £660.  So now is the time to cash in on those discarded pieces of gold jewellery, gold cased pens, smoking accessories etc and bring them along to Morphets and cash in on the gold boom.