The largest catalogue for a couple of years at the Curiosity Salerooms in Carmarthen was very well received by a packed house on May 20. Auctioneers Peter Francis believe that their new format of six catalogued auctions and more regular General Sales has been totally vindicated as, once again this year, the target total for the auction was left well behind. The monthly sales also holding up well and are more manageable every four weeks rather than the huge auctions which took place every six weeks. With the BBC 'Flog it' cameras in attendance, having filmed their valuation day in Tenby three weeks previously, there was an added atmosphere in the saleroom, a real buzz which is sometimes not present these days. As is usual, the auction started with pictures and the most significant of those were in the Welsh interest section. Leading prices were £780 for a David Shepherd study of a lorry which had failed to sell in our April Transport Sale, £2,200 for a Peter Prendergast oils which we had well under-rated(!), a Ceri Richards screen print at £450 and an oils by Sally Moore which led the section, finding a buyer immediately post sale at £4,000. Amongst all the pictures, the biggest surprise was a 19th century silver mounted icon rated at less than £1,000, which flew away to sell at £7,500 after strong competition from absentee bidders and phone lines, including from New York. Top price in the maps was a John Speed of Wales at £650. Furniture started with dressers and most sold at fair levels, led by two potboard types at £2,400 and £2,300, respectively. Generally, the furniture preformed as expected, with one or two surprises. A small 18th century mahogany bureau, of a type out of favour at present, made £2,700 against a £1.000-£1,500 estimate, an 18th century Welsh Cardiganshire standing cupboard made £3,000 (£1,500-£2,500), a nice Cardiganshire coffer bach made £1,400 - a fair price at present, but less than a few years ago. An 18th century mahogany architect's table, in very poor condition having lived in a barn for many years, came in at £1,600 and a Chinese carved hardwood envelope top card table made £1,300 (£300-£400), selling on the phone direct to Hong Kong! Table and mantel clocks are selling better than longcases at present, but we had fair trade with a top price of £2,500 for an 18th century bracket clock (£1,000-£1,500). Silver and gold is strong at present and a complete sell out of this section was the result. A flintlock 'Blunderbuss' pistol (the pair to which was thrown away by the vendors family)! made £920 against six commission bids. A fine collection of Welsh ceramics was led, as expected, by the huge Ewenny vase featured in the catalogue cover, coming in at £1,000 (£600-£1,000) and much of the Llanelly pottery realising within expectations, a few surprises and lots of prospective bidders hiding in dark corners! Top of the shop in ceramics was a very beautiful KPM porcelain plaque at £3,000 (£1,200-£1,800). A pair of Staffordshire rabbits made £2,000 as expected. A long day closed satisfactorily when a parchment Crescent of Arms made £200, despite a nearly empty saleroom at that time! The next sale at the Curiosity will be on July 15. In the meantime, valuation days are taking place on June 11 and 18 - by appointment only. General furniture, china and collectors items come under the hammer on Wednesday, June 4 and July 9. Nigel Hodson FNAVA