Brian King Model Sale

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Forum members and readers of Model Boats will be familiar with the magnificent models built by Brian King and many will also have some of the books he wrote on ship modelling topics and techniques.

Brian has long been a supporter and contributor to the magazine and his models have won many awards including regular appearances at the Model Engineer Exhibition. He is perhaps best known for his series of Victorian battleships. Examples of his work can be seen in a feature article here:

**LINK**

and:

**LINK**

At the age of 90, Brian is finally hanging up his modelling boots and needs to dispose of his model collection. It appears that museums are not interested in acquiring these superb examples of modelmaking as models are currently out of fashion in favour of 'interactive exhibits' and so Brian's collection is being offered for sale by auction at Ewbanks of Guildford on 17th March and you can view the catalogue here:

**LINK**

At the realistically pitched guide prices, any one of these models would be a unique acquisition for the serious collector.

Colin

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Brian’s models are to be auctioned on 17th March 2016

[Simon PorterParticipant @simonporter93469]

Just had a look at the auction site.

They are superb indeed!

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

I hope that they have reserves on

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Will it be possible to view the sale online as it is taking place, like at the London auction houses of Charles Miller, Christie's etc?

The models look really superb!

It is a great pity that they have described them as a collection of "model boats" rather than ships!

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 18/02/2016 18:49:50

Edited By Bob Wilson on 18/02/2016 18:55:22

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

No idea Bob although I think online bidding is possible so maybe.

I have seen most of these models over the years at the Model Engineer Exhibition and judged some of them!

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I see the sale is tomorrow. I have printed out the relevant pages so I can check off the results when they arrive.

I feel a big drawback of the sale is the fact that they (Ewbanks) are not prepared to arrange shipping of the models to the buyers, but require them to be collected. I have never heard of that before with a major auctioneer!

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob,

Have you got any information on how the sale went?

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Colin,

Not yet, the sale results will be available tomorrow, I believe. I will let you know how it went.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Results just come in:

Results of Brian King sale.

Models sold

Cutter Speedy: £750

Field Gun: £200

USS Arizona £220

HMS Campanula: £380

HMS Tabard: £600

Algerine class minesweeper: £900

HMS Camperdown: £650

HMS Colossus £550

HMS Belfast: £4,200

HMS Glorious: £2,800

HMS Anson: £2,200

HMS Queen Elizabeth: £2,600

HMS Nile: £2,400

Cuirasse de Bouver: £750

HMS Victoria: £3,000

HMS Empress of India: £4,200

——————————————

Not sold:

USS Hornet

Rother Class lifeboat

Arun Class lifeboat

Overall, very successful. The above prices are Hammer Prices. They buyers would have to pay more. 15% commission will be deducted from the sale, but still very successful!

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob,

Yes, just picked this up myself on the Ewbank site. I hope Brian is pleased. You can see that the buyers identified the best examples and bid accordingly.

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

A pretty good result, but I think they would have done better is the saleroom had been prepared to ship them rather than have collection only!

Also, some serious collecters may not have even looked at the sale, seeing them described as a "collection of model boats!" they may have got the impression they were toys!

Bob

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

I really hope Brian is pleased with the results considering it is almost a life times work and being in possession of a Brian King ship model is an awesome responsibility they are the very best of what a model maker can achieve ..

Dave Wooley

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