Step inside The Period Home, a carefully curated auction celebrating furniture, clocks, silver, works of art and decorative objects with a strong sense of history and interior appeal. This is a sale for those who love pieces with presence, whether that means a handsome desk for a study, a finely made wall clock, a silver and enamel keepsake, or a portrait with a story behind it. 

From elegant furnishings to unusual conversation pieces, the catalogue brings together objects that can add depth, texture and character to both period properties and more contemporary interiors. Here are a few selected highlights from the wider sale.

Furniture & Interiors

For those looking to furnish a study, library or traditional office, the George III style large mahogany reverse breakfront partners desk, Lot 1512, makes an immediate impression. With red tooled leather writing surfaces, crossbanded and moulded edges, ring-turned cluster columns and brass swan neck handles, it has the scale and authority expected of a classic partners desk. Estimated at £700 to £900, it is a substantial piece with strong period home appeal.

This late 19th century Vienna walnut regulator wall clock, Lot 1518, brings a different kind of presence. Its arched glazed case, moulded cornice, figured walnut veneers, enamel dial and brass weights give it the elegance associated with continental wall clocks of the period. Estimated at £800 to £1,200, it would sit beautifully in a hallway, dining room or formal interior. A more compact but highly practical highlight comes in the form of the pair of burr oak bedside tables, Lot 1636. With inlaid and crossbanded tops, campaign brass handles and four graduating drawers, they combine useful storage with attractive timber and traditional detail. Estimated at £500 to £700, they offer a smart finishing touch for a bedroom or guest room scheme.

Decorative Details

The decorative section includes pieces that bring together fine materials, social history and the kind of detail that draws the eye. A small but beautifully worked highlight is the Victorian Thomas Webb silver mounted cameo glass scent bottle, Lot 1502. Hallmarked for Sampson Mordan and Co, London 1884, the circular cameo glass body is decorated with white flowers and foliage in high relief against a black ground, with a hinged silver cover opening to reveal the original stopper. Estimated at £250 to £350, it is a charming example of late 19th century luxury and design.

Royal history appears in the Edwardian silver and enamel Coronation chocolate box, Lot 1548. The lid is enamelled with oval portraits of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra and inscribed for Coronation Day, 26 June 1902. Hallmarked Sheffield 1901 for Cooper Brothers and Sons and offered in its original presentation case, it carries an estimate of £800 to £1,200. As both a commemorative object and a piece of silver, it has strong appeal for collectors of royal memorabilia. For something more unusual, the 19th century elephant foot cigar case, Lot 1554, is a striking example of Victorian taxidermy and smoking culture. The hinged wooden lid opens to reveal two lidded compartments, turning the piece into a highly distinctive conversation object. Estimated at £200 to £400, it reflects a very particular 19th century taste for natural history, novelty and display.

Art For The Period Home

The art selection offers a mix of portraiture, porcelain painting and social history, with works that sit naturally within the wider Period Home theme. After Sir Peter Paul Rubens, the 19th century Dresden painted porcelain plaque depicting the artist’s self portrait, Lot 1500, is a refined decorative work on a small scale. Set in a silver gilt frame and estimated at £200 to £300, it brings together Old Master inspiration, porcelain painting and the collecting taste of the 19th century.

A particularly intriguing work, and estimate to achieve £200-400, is Sir James Williamson, 1st Baron Ashton, Lot 1507, painted in the manner of the Vanity Fair cartoonists. Williamson, later known as “The Lino King”, built his family’s Lancaster business into a major force in cork linoleum production, with the Lune Mills factory becoming a huge local employer. The portrait appears to be a rare surviving depiction of a famously private figure who was known for avoiding formal portraiture, giving the work added biographical interest. The early 19th century English School portrait of a girl in a black veil reading a book, Lot 1599, offers a quieter and more atmospheric note. Unsigned, and estimated at £200 to £400, the oil on canvas has a strong period presence, with the sitter’s dark veil, book and direct pose creating a sense of narrative and introspection.

Browse The Sale

Whether you are furnishing a period property, searching for a statement piece, or simply looking for something with history and individuality, the catalogue offers plenty to explore.

The auction ends on Friday 7 August 2026 from 11AM, live online and from David Duggleby Auctioneers in Scarborough. Browse the full catalogue online, register to bid and place your bids before the sale closes.

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