Gorringe's Summer Fine Sales 2026 deliver outstanding results for our clients.
Sales top £1.8 million as exceptional property continues to attract global buyers
July proved to be an exceptional month at Gorringe's, with our three Summer Fine Sales realising a combined £1,826,450 total, reinforcing our position as one of the UK’s leading regional auction houses. (All figures stated in this article include fees.)
Every specialist auction exceeded its aggregate low estimate, demonstrating the continued strength of the market for well-presented, fresh-to-market property and the enthusiasm of buyers both in the saleroom and online.
For those considering selling, the results are particularly encouraging. Across the month, our fine sales achieved an average of 133% of their aggregate low estimates, while the vast majority of each catalogue successfully found buyers. These figures reflect not only strong demand, but also the importance of realistic valuations, expert cataloguing and targeted marketing in achieving the very best outcome for our clients.
Historic Collections Capture Buyers' Attention
After Evgeny Lancere, a bronze figure of ‘The Tsar's Falconer’ £16,250 (incl. fees) 7 July 2026
Our Fine Art & Interiors sale on 7 July 2026 opened the series with a total of more than £508,981, achieving 122% of its aggregate low estimate and a remarkable 94% sell-through by value.
Leading the sale was the remarkable archive known as The Thatcher Papers, documenting Margaret Thatcher's successful campaign for the Conservative Party leadership, which realised £90,000. Elsewhere, collectors competed strongly for a magnificent James McCabe giant carriage clock, which sold for £25,000, while an impressive bronze of 'The Tsar's Falconer' achieved £16,250 and a rare Henry Needham Scrope Shrapnel patent corkscrew realised £12,500.
Despite the pervasive belief that the market for traditional material is still sluggish, demand for the sale's finest property was exceptionally strong, a reassuring indicator for anyone considering consigning important works of art or antiques.
Modern British Art Continues to Shine
Harold Gilman, The artist’s mother £100,000 (incl. fees) 21 July 2026
The Art & Design Post 1880 auction on 21 July 2026 reinforced the strength of today's market for Modern British art and twentieth-century design, realising £434,825. Just as with the Fine Art & Interiors auction, the sale exceeded its aggregate low estimate by 22%.
The auction was led by Harold Gilman's beautiful portrait The Artist's Mother, which realised £100,000, alongside strong prices for works by Arthur Boyd (£21,250), John Piper (£18,750), Duncan Grant (£17,500) and David Hockney (£12,500).
Contemporary sculpture also attracted enthusiastic bidding, with two impactful works by Sean Henry both exceeding their upper estimates to sell for £9,750 and £8,750.
Significantly, this auction achieved the highest average hammer price per lot sold of all three July sales. This wasn't simply a reflection of a handful of exceptional works; it demonstrated buyers' willingness to compete for carefully selected, high-quality consignments across the catalogue. For vendors, it is a powerful indication that when outstanding property is accurately valued, expertly presented and marketed to the right audience, it attracts the attention – and the bidding - it deserves.
Jewellery Sale Delivers Exceptional Results
An enamel, yellow sapphire and diamond ‘Holbeinesque’ brooch £13,750 (incl. fees) 28 July 2026
The month's standout auction was undoubtedly Jewellery, Silver & Watches, which realised an outstanding £882,644 at hammer. The sale, which contained over 700 lots, achieved a 90% sell-through rate by lot, exceeded its aggregate low estimate by 54%, and even surpassed its aggregate high estimate - an exceptional result by any measure.
Among the highlights were a Holbeinesque brooch (£13,750), an Art Deco sapphire and diamond ring (£19,375), a rare Cartier urn clock (£16,250), a Russian enamel presentation beaker (£15,000), together with strong prices for fine jewellery, luxury watches and silver throughout the sale.
Perhaps most encouraging was the breadth of bidding. These results were not driven by one or two spectacular lots but by sustained competition across the catalogue, reflecting the confidence buyers continue to have in quality property offered through Gorringe's.
Thank You to Our Clients
Every auction tells a story, and July's was one of confidence, quality and competitive bidding. From important historical archives and Modern British paintings to jewellery, clocks and silver, collectors responded enthusiastically to the exceptional property entrusted to us.
For those thinking about selling, the results speak for themselves: every July fine sale exceeded its aggregate low estimate, demand remained particularly strong for quality consignments, and buyers continued to compete for fresh-to-market property across every collecting category.
We would like to thank all of our vendors and bidders for making the Summer Fine Sales such a success.
Our specialists are now accepting entries for the forthcoming Autumn/Winter series of fine sales below.
If you are considering selling a single item, a family collection or an entire estate, we would be delighted to provide a complimentary valuation and discuss how we can help you achieve the best possible result.
- Asian Ceramics & Works of Art – Tuesday 13 October (deadline 15 September)
- Jewellery, Silver & Watches - Tuesday 27 October (deadline 29 September)
- Fine Art & Interiors – Tuesday 3 November (deadline 6 October)
- Art & Design Post 1880 - Tuesday 1 December (deadline 3 November)
