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BBC News
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Antiques Roadshow's Bunny auctions off rabbit collection in Newbury
Antiques Roadshow expert Bunny Campione returned to the rostrum for the first time in decades to start the sale of her prized rabbit collection, which sold for about £24, sale at Special Auction Services in Newbury, Berkshire, included a rare 1906 Steiff wool plush Peter Rabbit, which sold for £7, was gifted to Campione after it was found in a bin in Athens, Greece, and had been expected to fetch between £4,000 and £6, said she "thoroughly enjoyed" selling off some of the items and was "thrilled with all the results". The wool plush was sold to a UK-based private collector. Other highlights included Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, produced by Dean's Rag Book Co., which was sold for £3, was bought by a Singapore-based collector, who was not put off by minor damage that was caused by Campione's pet rabbit. "I was absolutely delighted to have started the auction off – and although things have changed rather a lot since I was last on the rostrum, I thoroughly enjoyed myself," she said."I was thrilled with all the results, particularly my favourite Peter Rabbit, and amazed that the bids were from as far away as Singapore and the United States."Daniel Agnew, Special Auction Services' toy, doll and teddy bear expert, said the auction was "the most fun I have had in an auction for years".He added: "Bunny taking the first part of her lots was highly entertaining. We achieved some amazing prices and it was a pleasure to find homes for her collection." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Disturbing' 19th Century German toys fetch £192k at auction
More than 400 German toys dating from the 19th Century have sold at auction for almost £200, collection of toys made out of wood, papier-mâché or composition in the Sonneberg and Erzgebirge regions of Germany went on sale at auction with Special Auction Services in Newbury, hoard of quirky toys previously belonged to David Finn, from Nottinghamshire, who spent decades amassing the collection. He died in 2023 aged auctioneer's toy expert, Daniel Agnew said described them as "a little disturbing" and said they were considered "too controversial nowadays". The collection sold for a hammer price of £192,154, including buyers premium.A Sonneberg papier-mache and wood hand-cranked mechanical toy of a shepherdess was one of the oldest and highest valued Agnew said: "It dates back to about the 1830s. It's such an extraordinary survival."It made one of the highest individual sales - £6,500. He said one of his favourites, a squeaking pig."When you squeeze his bellows, he squeaks, makes a piggy noises and his tongue sticks out and his ears pop up."Mr Agnew explained that in the 19th Century, toys were "very much a rich person's object". He said: "Although, we call them all toys, they weren't all necessarily for children. "I think they were often adult novelties, the sort of thing that you might have in your drawing room. "They represent soldiers, characters, animals, social history, grotesque things, everything that's often lost in history now." Mr Agnew said the collection reflects social history and evolving added the objects were "considered highly amusing" in the 19th Century but would "not be considered acceptable today"."This collection gives us a remarkable glimpse into the world of the 19th Century toy shop even if some of the pieces cause a little controversy," he added. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
