A BROOCH measuring just 4cm long sold for £4,800 at a Somerset auction.

On the day the nation went to the polls to elect a new government on July 4, bidders put in their bids for new items at the Greenslade Taylor Hunt sale.

Gold proved popular during the sale, at the Somerset Auction Rooms, at Junction 24 near Bridgwater, with many lots sold comfortably above their pre-sale estimates.

Among them was a Victorian, diamond-set canine brooch. Measuring just 4cm long, it set the pace and sold for £4,800.

This dazzling item featured old European, old single, old rose and senaille cut diamonds, of good quality, estimated to total 0.95 carats with a ruby cabochon eye, on a 9ct yellow gold wire pin and C hook clasp.

It was nearly outshone by an 18ct gold diamond solitaire Tiffany style ring, which went for £4,500.

This 18ct gold diamond solitaire Tiffany style ring fetched £4,500 at Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s recent sale of jewellery, silverware and watches. Picture: GTH

Precious metals in all guises performed well.

A George V sterling silver large tray, hallmarked Sheffield 1925, was sold for £1,800, while a large Eastern silver punch bowl, featuring an intricately decorated tiger and boar hunt through an exotic forest, was bought for £1,300.

Deborah Cole, consultant valuer for GTH, said: “There was strong competition from the internet and in the room for several lots, particularly for gold necklaces, heavy silver items, a solitaire diamond ring and an antique old cut diamond canine brooch.”

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Other prices of note included a 9ct gold fob chain with double sovereign which fetched £1,165, and a fine gold Credit Suisse ingot pendant, hallmarked Singapore, which went for £1,050.

A number of gold chains and bracelets found new homes, including a 9ct gold filed curb link bracelet, broken, but attached safety chain, which sold for £530.

The sale certainly demonstrated that now is an excellent time to realise the value of your unwanted gold and silver items.

GTH offers free, no-obligation valuations, which can be booked on Mondays to Thursdays between 10am and 4pm, on 01278 410250.