Coming up in June...

Over the week beginning 24th of June we will have a total of 9 auctions including Fine Jewellery, Rare and Collectable Whisky, Wine and Port, Silver including Scottish Provincial and The Scottish Contemporary art auction.

Who thought the day would come that we would be auctioning a genuine antique Fijian weapon of war? This unique weapon, with a tribal name 'Totokia', designed to drive a hole into the skull of the enemy was also believed to possess there own life force or ‘mana’, making them treasured objects in life or in death. They are highly sought after so we look forward to seeing what will happen in the Furniture, Clocks and works of art auction on Tuesday at 6pm.


Lot 364

Another lot coming up during the week will be the craftsmanship of Tain silver, made in Tain, Ross-shire. This particular piece, a pair of bud vases made by William Innes of Tain circa 1835 demonstrates the quality of Innes's work, from each delicately worked wavy rim to the chased foliate designs of each vase. It will be up for bidding on our Scottish Silver auction on Tuesday 25th at 10.30am.


Lot 7

Our Scottish Pictures auction on Thursday 27th at 6pm will also feature a beautiful item up for auction. This fine example of McTaggart’s mature oeuvre was painted in 1873 and 'The Sea Bird' is definitely one not to be missed in this upcoming auction.



Lot 1737

For more information on these auctions including the expected hammer prices, have a look at the online catalogues for each auction.

British & Continental Ceramics & Glass -   Tuesday 25th June
Silver including Scottish Provincial - Tuesday 25th June 
Furniture, Clocks & Works of Art - Tuesday 25th June
Rare & Collectable Whisky, Wine & Port - Wednesday 26th June
Clocks, Watches and Coins - Wednesday 26th June
Fine Jewellery - Wednesday 26th June
Sports, Movie & Television Memorabilia - Thursday 27th June
The Scottish Pictures Auction - Thursday 27th June
The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction - Sunday 30th June  

Going Once...Going Twice...Gone!

With a little gap till our June auctions, we thought it would be interesting to have a look at the most expensive items sold at auction over the years.

Recently at McTear’s we were fortunate to be auctioning some of the fantastic work by Peter Howson which raised over £200,000. However, other items around the world have managed to reach much higher prices at auction.

It’s amazing what some people will pay for things at auction and these following items are just some of the best examples.

First of all the most expensive painting which was Pablo Picasso's Nude, Green Leaves and Bust that sold for $106.5million (£66million) in 2010 at Christie's auction house.


Source: Picasso's Nude, Green Leaves and Bust to be shown at Tate Modern

Next is the most expensive piece of clothing. Marlyn Monroe's famous 'Happy Birthday' serenade to President John F. Kennedy is one that has gone down in history and her flesh-coloured, curve-hugging, jewel-encrusted dress so tight and sheer that she was sewn into it, sold for a massive $1,267,500 in 1999.


Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday Mr. President" Dress

The most expensive musical instrument sold in 2007 was this Guarneri del Gesù violin that sold for $3.9millon.


Guarneri del Gesù violin

We found this one very peculiar: The most expensive lock of hair. The company behind the Internet auction of such macabre memorabilia has made a small fortune selling the tresses of celebrities.To date, the most valuable one sold was that of Elvis Presley selling for $115,000 in 2002.


Tresses from Elvis Presley

Now for probably the coolest car we have ever seen, the 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. Being the most expensive car sold at auction, this beauty reached a whopping $12.2million in 2009.


1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

If diamonds really are a girl's best friend, then this Wittelsbach diamond would be the best friend they could have. Selling for $23.4million in 2008 this diamond is the most expensive one sold to date.


Wittelsbach diamond

Adapted from The Times Top 10 most expensive items sold at auction.

McTear's next special auctions will begin on the 25th of June with British & Continental Ceramics & Glass.

Natasha Joins Bargain Hunt!

We are delighted to announce that our very own Natasha Raskin is joining the BBC Bargain Hunt experts team, filming for the first time this Sunday at the Great Wetherby Antiques Fair.



Good luck Natasha!

Visit our Website, Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with what is happening at McTear's Auctioneers.

May at McTear's

What a fantastic week for McTear's with various special auctions proving to be extremely successful causing great excitement and eager bidding amongst both those who attended but also those who never.

The auctions all contained an eclectic mix of worthy auction items including Jewellery, paintings, furniture and sculptures all of which are unique and command interest from our bidders.

Rocking on in our Furniture, Clocks and Works of Art auction was this Edwardian Gesso pine pedestal rocking horse originally retailed by Harrods of Knightsbridge. After getting an estimation of £500-£800, the horse ended up going under the hammer for a fantastic £2400 on Tuesday the 21st May.


Lot 375

For the Whisky lovers, on Wednesday the 22nd bidding commenced on lot 666 the Springbank Millennium Collection which included 6 different bottles along with the Millennium Collection miniature box set of 6 miniatures. After some keen bidding this lot managed to raise its maximum estimation of £4000.


Lot 666

In our Fine Jewellery auction we had many beautiful pieces up for grabs including some glittering diamond bracelets, rings and necklaces. In particular this outstanding diamond two stone ring which, after an estimation of £1000-£2000, exceeded its highest expected price reaching £6000.


Lot 1101

Fancy a cuppa? In our Asian Works of Art auction this unique Chinese silver teapot with bird and blossom decoration and branch finial sold for a fantastic £1500 after getting an estimation of £500-£800 last Thursday.


Lot 1428

These are only just a few of the items worth noting that went under the hammer over the course of last week. For full online catalogues and hammer prices have a look here.

For details of our upcoming June auctions that start on the 25th have a look at our website. McTear's look forward to seeing you there ready with your bidding hats on.

Spotlight on Sunday: Scottish Contemporary Art

Being the only auction house in the UK to provide a monthly sale dedicated to Scottish Contemporary Art, McTear’s unique auction on Sunday is set to be one to cause great interest.

It can’t be ignored that last months various auctions were both distinctive and in some cases record breaking! First of all was April’s Scottish Contemporary Art auction that saw a variety of special pieces going under the hammer including likes of John Bellany, Hamish MacDonald and Alison Watt OBE to name a few. Overall, the sale caught the eye of many keen bidders producing some fantastic results.


Lot 1687: John Bellany: Estimate: £700 - £1000 Hammer: £1100


Lot 1688: Hamish MacDonald: Estimate: £500 - £800 Hammer: £1600


Lot 1718: Alison Watt: Estimate: £8000 - £12000 Hammer: £7000

Then came the unforgettable Terry Howson Collection auction with almost 400 drawings, sketches and etchings by her former husband Peter Howson. It was questionable whether we would be able to fit such a massive sale in between April and May’s Scottish Contemporary Art auctions but with the effort and commitment of the McTear’s team “we worked something out”. It was not surprising that such a unique sale would have acquired such global interest especially with the pictures being sold at No Reserve with David Bowie fans competing to get that winning bid, the sale was a sell-out success.


Lot 56: Peter Howson OBE 'Monique' mixed media, signed and dated '07: Estimate: £200 - £500 Hammer: £2400


Lot 310: Peter Howson OBE 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' (The First Of The David Bowie Drawings): Estimate: £1000 - £2000 Hammer: £6000

This Sunday once again people will be eagerly watching and bidding as McTear's hold another Scottish Contemporary Art auction. After the Terry Howson collection last month this Sunday boasts an exciting array of Howson oils, from 1982 onwards. Other notable items going under the hammer include George Wyllie MBE and Jack Vettriano OBE.


Lot 1877: Peter Howson OBE 'The Justified Sinner': Estimate: £2000 - £3000


Lot 1889: George Wyllie MBE sculpture: Estimate: £500 - £1000


Lot 1902: Jack Vettriano OBE 'Letter of Consequence' oil on canvas: Estimate: £15000 - £20000

We are hoping that the upcoming Scottish Contemporary Art auction will be as successful as our previous ones and look forward to welcoming you there.

The Scottish Contemporary Art auction is this Sunday, 26th of May at 2pm.

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Whisky Galore in May

May's Fine Whisky auction is full to the brim and set to be an exciting auction with 500 fantastic lots of whisky, wine and port.

Such an eclectic mix of bottles go under the hammer at these auctions and it's amazing to see the the selection that come through McTear's. Coming up in the auction on the 22nd of May at 10.30am will be this unusual Whisky case clock that is estimated to go for £400-£500...


Lot 561: GLENGOYNE 2000 A.D. LONG CASE CLOCK Limited edition, cask strength single Highland malt whisky.

Another lot is The Macallan 50 year old 'A Special Bottling of un-blended single highland Malt Scotch Whisky Over 50 Years Old'. We have sold one before for £17,000, and with an estimate of £14,000-£16,000 we are hopeful this one can achieve the same...


Lot 721: The Macallan 50 year old single malt scotch whisky

How quirky are these little bottles? You might get the chance to bid and win these comical bottles in McTear's auction next week.



These are just a few of the many lots we have coming up in McTear's Whisky auction next week so make sure you get yourself along for the chance to grab yourself some rare and collectable Whisky, Wine and Port. 

For more information on this auction and further lots going under the hammer have a look at our online catalogue.

This auction is also just one of the various auctions we have happening over the course of next week including Fine Jewellery, Asian Works of Art and British & Continental Ceramics & Glass, Silver & Plate, hopefully see you there.

May in McTear's...

After April's successful auctions, including the fantastic Terry Howson Collection that raised over £200,000, we are now busy getting organised for our May '3 Days of Auction'

Starting on the 21st of May with our British & Continental Ceramics & Glass, Silver & Plate, the Auctions will run over the 3 days finishing on the 23rd with The British and Continental Pictures Auction.

Coming up in our Fine Jewellery Auction the 22nd of May at 6pm is this outstanding 2.40 carat diamond solitaire ring...



Our Fine Whisky Auction also on the 22nd at 10.30am is already shaping up nicely! So much so that we’re already on the lookout for bottles for June so make sure you get along to grab a 'tasty tipple'.



For more information on these Auctions and the other exciting ones we have coming up in May, have a look here.

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