ARTEFACTS from a historic Oswestry estate have been sold for several thousand pounds at a Whitchurch auction.

Trevanion and Dean's September Fine Art and Antiques auction proved that there is no slowing down for the auction house this year, with more than 800 lots suggesting the antiques market boom is set to continue throughout the autumn.

On sale at the auction included a large single-owner collection of jewellery, a selection of fine works of art and spectacular array of grand tour souvenirs from an Oswestry estate.

The collection was discovered in the attic and outbuildings of the main hall by Christina Trevanion and Ashley Jones during a visit to the estate.

"The attics and outbuildings were fascinating, in that they had not really been touched for decades" said Christina.

One of the most significant pieces from the collection was a 19th century specimen table top, inlaid with colourful hardstone and agate samples.

"We discovered the table top tucked away in a stable, years of dust had hidden the beautiful colours, I remember wiping it down with a cloth and being astonished by the richness of the colours and patterns underneath – it was really quite breath-taking," Christina added.

After a fierce bidding battle, with seven telephone bids, commission bids and two online bidding platforms available, the table finally sold to a French buyer for the impressive sum of £7,500.

Another significant consignment from the same estate was an impressive 8.5 ft tall portrait of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, an 18th century Welsh landowner and prominent politician, painted by Swedish artist Michael Dahl, which sold to a Welsh collector for £6,500.

"Sir Watkin-Williams-Wynn is noted for introducing a bill to prevent bribery at elections, which passed into law in the early 18th century" said Ashley.

"The portrait, which was presumably commissioned by Williams-Wynn himself, commemorates this accomplishment, with the scroll in his right hand reading "

"We knew this portrait was special, but upon researching it further we were surprised to discover a smaller, half-length version – possibly taken as a preparatory study – belonging to the National Portrait Gallery.

"You can imagine how thrilling it was to find out we had the sister piece in our saleroom.'

Other lots of note from the collection included a Swedish porphyry vase which sold to a French collector for £4,400, and a coveted George II candle mahogany lantern which sold for £2,800.

Of the sale, managing director Christina said: "We continue to see the market performing strongly for fresh-to-the market pieces with good provenance, and this proved to be a winning combination at our last auction."