Welcome to John Rolfe Auctions, a new saleroom based in Tetbury, Gloucestershire which was started by auctioneer John Rolfe in 2022.
Hello, my name is John. Having spent a lifetime in the antique trade (son of a dealer), the last 20 years I have been working up from a porter to head valuer and auctioneer. Now with my experience from shop floor to top table I feel ready and rather excited about this independent venture.
I have worked in all areas of antiques, design and collectables. Being head valuer one has to be able to spot quality across the board. We will certainly be able to assist in any area whether it be:
Jewellery - Silver - Watches - Clocks - Modern Art & Design - Decorative Arts - Pictures & Paintings - Asian art - Ceramics - Glass…
To me it is important that an auction house is as accessible as possible. Be gone the days of the pompous auctioneer in his bow tie and monocle, antiques and collecting should be for all. I want to keep hold of the traditional values that I hold so dear but welcome the modern advances that continue to revolutionise the industry.
The things I pride myself on are honesty, service and quality. If we can provide you with those things and perhaps a smile then I will be completely content.
See you at the sale.
Large and Impressive Chinese Qianlong period Zitan and jade table screen, inlaid with an ancient pine tree and calligraphy to the reverse with two red wax seal marks, believed to be linked to an imperial temple, slotted into a well carved framework with bat motif, 90 x 115cm in total A number of jade pieces that frame the calligraphy are off, we have a bag of the bits, two or three pieces missing from the pine tree decoration. From a estate cleared in Somerset
about Lot 1
A mid 20th century 18ct gold cased pocket lighter by Garrard & Co Ltd, 112 Regent St, W1, with engine-turned covers, a flip-top, roller flint strike and base petrol reservoir-screw, hallmarks for Garrard & Co, London 1957, approx. 5.2cm high, 3.5cm wide, 80g gross
about Lot 270
Jaeger LeCoultre, Reverso Classique, a gentleman’s 18ct yellow gold wrist watch circa 2000, Ref; 1965600, brushed bi-tone effect silvered dial with Arabic numerals and blued steel hands, 33mm (38.5mm overall) x 23.4mm reverso case with Swiss Convention hallmarks, on a black crocodile-effect strap with a deployant clasp marked 'Solid Gold 18 K 750', the manual wind movement not examined but ticking and the set-hands functioning; with 'Certificat Garantie'(sic) dated 2000, 'Livret de Garantie' mulit-lingual booklet, instruction booklet in sleeve, blue case with cream suede lining, and outer blue-card box
about Lot 1124
Royal Interest - A late Victorian / Edwardian gold, enamel and gem set Prince of Wales stick pin, set with tiny cabochon emeralds and rubies and throughout with old-cut and rose cut diamonds and with a blue enamel ribbon moto 'Ich Dien', unmarked, the crown approx. 16mm high 15mm wide, 3.7g gross, in a maroon silk and velvet lined Morocco case
about Lot 233
A rare silver and nephrite jade table vesta/match case in the form of a tortoise, the nephrite shell naturalistically carved and with an inner silver rim, the oval tortoise base with a head and four feet, marked beneath 'Frank Hyams Ltd, 128 New Bond St, W' and with hallmarked for Frank Hyams Ltd, London 1904, approx. 3.5cm high, 8cm long overall, approx. 95g gross
about Lot 310
A mid 20th century Continental gold combined cigarette and vesta case, the reeded cover inset with an oval sapphire flanked by two small untested rubies, and with a small cabochon sapphire thumb-piece, the reeded base with an end-compartment for matches with a hinged cover with a serrated strike, with one small indistinct mark on the inner rim, approx. 12.5mm high, 91mm wide, 55mm deep, 132g gross
about Lot 241
A charming novelty silver frog three piece cruet, comprising salt, pepper, and mustard, the mustard with hinged mouth and gilt interior with mustard spoon tongue, maker William Comyns, London 2005, the mustard 8cm high, 23.7oz gross
about Lot 260
A piece of British military history - William Patent No 4762-90 silver cased Fast Beating chronograph pocket watch, Sole Maker John Taylor, Rochdale, inscribed to the back 'R J Mitchell, Chief Engineer, Supermarine Aviation Ltd' - Reginald Joseph Mitchell was a British aircraft designer who worked for the Southampton aviation company Supermarine from 1916 until 1936. He is best known for designing racing seaplanes, such as the Supermarine S.6B, and for leading the team that designed the Supermarine Spitfire' - the watch case by William Buck of London 1917, 58mm case, 191g gross With a further collection of Supermarine items to include the time recording machine, a large collection of black and white glass slide with various aquatic planes and prototypes and a black and white photograph of Group Captain Alfred Basil Woodhall OBE (9 January 1897 – 11 June 1968) a British senior officer who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War
about Lot 1
An Edwardian 18ct gold, ruby and diamond concave rectangular cigarette case, with a ruby cabochon thumb-piece, the front corner with a pear-shaped ruby quatrefoil flower and rose diamond stem, the inside engraved 'W.C. Holloway from his friend D Citroen, October 1906', hallmarks for Cohen & Charles, Chester 1902, approx. 1.5cm deep, 9cm wide, 7cm deep overall, approx. 95.7g gross including the steel thumb-piece spring, hinge and internal elastic holders
about Lot 242
Glashütte, Senator, Panorama date with moon phase, a gentleman’s 18ct gold wrist watch, signed dark-gray matt dial with raised gilt baton markers, sweep centre seconds, a 'panorama date' or moonphase aperture near 10-11 and a date aperture at 4 and marked 'Glashutte I/SA', 39mm diameter case (41.5mm with crown) with a display back, on the original Glashutte black-leather strap with a deployant clasp stamped '750', Glashutte 44 jewel automatic movement, No.31275, Cal. Gub-39-41, with a pierced bi-colour rotor and marked 'Made in Germany'; together with the Glashutte Original case with a watchmaker's eye-piece or loupe, and outer card box
about Lot 1125