Auctioneers at Martel Maides Auctions say that the sale of Dr Hugh Thurston’s collections exceeded all expectations, with more than 80 per cent of the 1,230 lots finding new owners.
Dr Thurston died in 2012 at the age of 81.
As an economist, Dr Thurston was known for his intelligence and had a reputation for insight and expertise in a wide range of fields.
In the late 1960s he advised the States on the problems associated with the UK’s new role as a Common Market.
He was a keen traveller and his vast collection of items, which ended up at his Claremont Court home off Mont Millais, was recently sold at a two-day auction at the Hotel de France.
The highest price that was paid was for a rare set of a dozen 19th-century Chinese watercolour scrolls showing an Emperor and Empress and their attendants in a palace. They were sold to a Jersey bidder for £17,000 after being given an estimated value of between £8,000 and £12,000.
A rare silver tankard from the 18th century made by Jersey silversmith Philippe Le Vavasseur dit Durrell will also remain in the Island after it was sold to a local collector for £6,700.
A Jersey number plate, J881, went for £14,000 and a large collection of jade objects, including jewellery and parts of a sword, sold for a total of £11,200.
However, it was a Chinese robe with an estimated value of £80 to £120 which led to the biggest surprise of the auction when it sold for £6,500.
James Bridges and Nick Renny, directors of Martel Maides Auctions, handled the sales with support from 15 staff.
Mr Bridges said it was probably the biggest single sale the firm had held.
‘We didn’t count the numbers, but I think we had well over 1,000 people come through the house and gardens during the viewing period,’ he said.
‘We had more than 1,200 lots, so it really was a full two days’ auctioneering.
‘The collection was very strong on pictures, some of which sold really well.’
Mr Bridges added that about 70 per cent of the items sold were picked up by Jersey bidders, who were competing against phone and internet bidders from all over the world.
‘There was a fantastic buzz in the room right through the two days and a clear amount of competition for many of the lots from local and worldwide bidders,’ he said.
‘We had bidders from 34 countries worldwide participating in the auction.
‘The popularity and success of this sale is testament to Dr Thurston’s skills as a collector.’
