>. Magnificent Gold The Christie's English Gold Auction held in London November 20, 2001 Barb Moriarty November 20, 2001 ...Sixty-five thousand. Sixty-eight thousand on the phone. Seventy-two thousand for you, sir. Christie's Magnificent Gold auction, held in London today, included perhaps the most superb 17th and 18th century gold objects in existence. Only fifteen percent of the English gold artworks made before 1800 have survived the passage of time. The sale realized £1,804,150.  The highlights of the auction were nine extra-special gold objects assembled by the late Nathanial Mayer Victor, 3rd Baron Rothschild in the 1950s and 1960s. These stunning works of art bear testimony to the legendary taste of the Rothschilds, one of the greatest families of collectors, of all time. Lot #11 A superb porringer made in London in 1671 that stands out for its perfect proportion and wonderful condition. Made for Sir James Smith, an immensely wealthy Mayor of Exeter, the porringer descended in the Waleran family in Devon until its sale at Christie's in 1969.  It was purchased by the American millionaire Charles Engelhard, on whom it has been rumoured Ian Fleming based his character, Goldfinger. Following Engelhard's death, Lord Rothschild purchased the porringer at Christie's in 1972. 4 3/4" tall; weight 21oz SOLD for £380,000 click image for big photo Lot #13 The Rushout Beaker, 1697, finely engraved with the arms of the Levant or Turkey Company, one of only two surviving examples of the precious gifts presented to the wives of newly-appointed Ambassadors to Turkey. The beaker passed into the family of the Earls of Shaftesbury and was sold by them at Christie's in 1952 to Lumley. 5 1/2" tall; weight 17oz SOLD for £300,750 click image for big photo Lot #15 Queen Anne cream jug, 1705, which appears to be one of the earliest known surviving cream-jugs and the only recorded 18th century example in solid gold. 3 3/4" tall; weight 7oz SOLD £157,500 click image for big photo Three important racing cups sold: Lot #10 A magnificent Queen Anne York gold cup of 1706, made in London the previous year and given by Queen Anne for presentation.   It has appeared at auction at Christie's on three occasions before, in 1898, 1911 and 1967. 6" tall; weight 23oz SOLD £223,750 click image for big photo Lot #12 A second gold cup in the collection is also from the York races, the Ladies Gold Cup run on 4 August 1725.  This cup is engraved with a galloping horse identified as Surley which was owned by Mr. Cuthbert Routh. Recent research has confirmed that the grey beat a chestnut called Quintin. 4" tall; 13oz SOLD £110,000 click image for big photo Lot #9 The third racing prize, in the form of a massive tumbler cup, was given by the Grosvenor family to award at the Chester races in 1792. circa 1791 3" tall; 9oz SOLD £110,000 click image for big photo Lot #1 A superb group of Irish Freedom boxes presented to the Dukes of Leinster in the 18th century by the cities, or various corporations within them, of Limerick, Kildare and Dublin.  These boxes were exhibited in 1989 at the important Glory of the Goldsmith exhibition at Christie's in London. The rarity of this collection lies partly in the delicate nature of these objects as well as the very limited numbers of gold artworks actually produced in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are also an historic part of English history, survivors from a bygone era that offer a glimpse into an opulent past. 2 3/8" diam; weight 2oz SOLD £24,000 click image for big photo Lot #8 22-carat English George III sugar tongs. circa 1760 4 3/4" long; weight 1 1/2oz SOLD £12,000 click image for big photo Lot #7 George III Irish gold thimbles. Both these pieces were expected to fetch somewhere between £5000 - £8000 circa 1768 5/8" tall; weight 13gm SOLD £9,000 click image for big photo Buy the Magnificent Gold Catalogue here (£20 / US$32) to 321gold home page 'doing' our bit for the precious metals