Hannah Hauxwell quilt auction, Tennants Auctioneers

What an interesting day!  This was the first time I had been to an auction.  It started with auctioning other lots, such as samplers.  Much interest in them.  Estimated prices in the catalogue were fairly accurate, between £100-£300.  My favourite sampler was unusual, in that it included 2 menorahs on a very traditional sampler, dated 1808 by Mary Miller 1808, which went for £380 (est £250-350).  Two 17th century stump work pictures went for £1100 and £1500 (est £500-800 and £600-800), from the estate of Professor Metcalf (reliable source apparently).

Menorah sampler - by a Jewish girl?

Hannah Hauxwell's quilts were typically estimated at between £200-300.  But the auction smashed these prices.  Her family bibles went for £250 (est £60-£100).  Many quilts went for £300-500, and several went for between 650-800, and one reached £1500. These quilts were made/hoarded by Hannah, her mother and grandmother, and had never been used.  Most went to known dealers, one to a collector in Australia (something called a knitting sheath - wooden carved handle for the end of a double ended needle).  In conversation with the auctioneer afterwards, he was confident many would remain in the local area.  Absolutely fascinating.

This one went for £1500

This was my favourite (I squint when I can't focus properly!)

It was good to see the artefacts of a local heroine being appropriately valued by her community.  But lets be realistic - all due to the power of television, to promote the wholesome values of a decent woman.  And I found out that her farm is now a SSSI.  Because she used traditional methods of farming, her land is rife with rare wildflowers (because of no pesticides and no fertilisers).  It is now a nature reserve, with footpaths for walkers/botanists/birdwatchers.  What a heritage she created.

Great day out.  I also had a long conversation with a lady who bred Wensleydale sheep wool and ran the Wensleydale sheep wool shop, who admired my cardigan.  So we had a long conversation about knitting, and then I went to her shop in the afternoon and bought some 4ply wool to make a cardigan. (Not that I need another, but it's always good to have a project lined up!).