Well it’s certainly been an eventful week for everybody and like many small businesses Smiths Auctions have been trying to think of ways to continue to trading during these difficult conditions.

Since the saleroom was already full of antiques and collectables it’s just a matter of taking sensible precautions for staff and then putting everything together for the forthcoming sale on April 3. So the final stages of lotting up and photography continue this week with the fully illustrated catalogue going online from March 27

Of course it is the online bidding which will now be the main focus for buyers and since most smaller items can be posted out after the sale, it is anticipated that this will be the preferred means of buying for most purchasers.

For those intrepid few who feel they need or want to come and view items in real life, the viewing day will include new guidelines such as hand washing both before and after leaving the auctions rooms as well as sensible self spacing around the saleroom – so there will be no excited clusters around the jewellery cabinet.

The sale contains a stunning selection of beautiful jewellery including a variety of large diamond earrings and rings. Antique jewellery items can command top prices from collectors and a rare pair of fine Victorian gold and coral drop earrings are estimated at £600/£800 whilst a beautiful silver Art Nouveau pendant is sure to be snapped up at just £60/£80.

Some buyers may even feel, that whilst interest rates are so low, that an investment in some jewellery items might not be such a bad idea!

Of course, as long as they are insured you can wear and enjoy them at the same time – which is more than you can say for most investments.

The shelves of collectables are also crammed with interesting items including antique lanterns, as well as a small collection of early and rare projectors and two very interesting pocket phonographs – which would have provided an unusual musical treat in Edwardian times.

The phonographs pack up into a small pocket sized circular box which could then be assembled into a strange tiny early form of record player – this may have been a novelty at the time but the sound quality can not have been very impressive at all.

Some interesting modern pictures in the sale include two original signed prints by Picasso and another by Marc Chagall as well as a Russell Flint Coastal print entitled ‘Fair Horizon’ and estimated at £500/£700.

More traditional paintings include a fine pair of oil on canvas continental town scenes by Henri Schafer estimated at £400/£600 and a range of antique watercolours. A quirky limited print of Winston Churchill feeding his goldfish by his nephew the artist John Spencer Churchill is also sure to be popular and is estimated at £80/£120.

Another interesting item which will probably sell online is a First Edition of Ian Flemmings sixth book ‘Dr No’ from the James Bond series which has now almost reached cult status.

This was the first book to be made into a film in 1962 and comes complete with it’s dust cover - it is estimated at £500/£700. In contrast a first edition from The Hundred and One Dalmations is estimated at £100/£150.

To round the sale off nicely there are a few garden items, a sprinkling of trendy vintage pieces and a collection of eye catching Chinese furniture (see above) which make fantastic additions to selective eclectic interior look.

Smiths sale is on April 3 at 10am with online bidding available at www.the-saleroom.com/smiths and the catalogue will be available also at www.smithsnewentauctions.co.uk

Viewing is on April 2, 10am-7pm and on the morning of the sale for those who are virus free and happy to wash their hands and take sensible precautions with hand washing and hand sanitizer available both before and afte

For all enquiries visit the website or telephone 01531 821776