Hammer time for silverware

A CHINESE teapot fetched £9,000 – more than 10 times its guide price – to crown a successful first specialist silver and jewellery sale for Sworders.

Edward VII coronet

The Stansted auctioneer sold 97 per cent of 574 lots for a total of almost £750,000, including an early 20th-century silver and silver gilt crown, left,  which went for £3,900, a pair of diamond earrings at £30,000 and a 5.3-carat diamond ring which made £22,000.

The teapot, decorated with battle scenes and dragon heads, was expected to fetch around £800.

Sworders managing director Guy Schooling said: “This has been a quite incredible sale.

“It’s very unusual for any auctioneer to sell 97 per cent of its lots, so that alone has broken records for us.”