A c1850 shepherds hut with shaped sides, complete with bed, table and cupboard with its stove on cast iron Gothic wheels, sold for £10,500 at Gaze's rural and domestic bygones sale last Saturday. Another mid-Victorian shepherd's hut 'for restoration' went for £750. A set of four shepherd's huts cast iron wheels managed £400 even without the axles.
 
A total of 1,039 lots were sold with a seemingly larger than usual number reaching substantial prices. Yes, the sale was of a higher quality possibly, but even so some large runs of smart prices were evident. Among several coppers a 27inch copper copper made £400. Several Kenrick door porters were offered of which the top lot was an original Mr Punch at £60. There were two collections of Thorley feeds and Watson soaps advertising lots, of which an enamel sign 'Thorley's Food - I'm Off For Some' and pig illustration fetched £1,400 and a Watson's Matchless Cleanser made £320. A superb 36ins high Muratti's cigarettes cabinet with mirrored pediment sold for £2,500. Top lot in an extensive and well-supported tools section was a Norris 54 plane, 22ins long, which sold for £1,000.
 
Upcoming sales at Gaze's include Modern Design 9th June, Architectural Salvage 30th June and Bygones 28th July.