LOT 150

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 13th Year

Issue

Issue No.

8

Date Released

Apr 1960

Stories in this Issue:

1. 135 YEARS AFTER
2. 2STORMY GENIUS
3. 3EAST WeymSS
4. 4LOT 150

Story

Story No. within this Issue

4 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: a chair made of coal recently auctioned at Sotheby’s.
NCB Commentary - Sotheby’s - London’s famous Auctioneers - are now in the coal trade. It all happened when a chair made entirely of coal became Lot No.150 in a recent sale of English furniture. Its history is obscure, but it’s known to have been carved by a face worker at an Ayreshire Colliery. It was in his possession when it was bought by the father of the present owner.
Can you sit on it? Well, watch!
It was exhibited at the 1956 Empire Exhibition in Glasgow where it stood alongside a coal table which belonged to the now Queen Mother. Made of cannell, it leaves no trace of dirt - even on the lightest frocks.
And now to the Auction Room for the sale of Lot 150 - described in the catalogue as "a hall chair in the style of William IV with a carved cartouche-shaped back, moulded seat and legs overlaid with palm leaves, circa 1845".
Next Lot was a George III table, and while the sale went on Mining Review sought out the purchaser of the chair, Mr. Rickett - a director of Sotheby’s and whose family are well known in the retail coal trade.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 25th February 1960.

Keywords

Arts and crafts; Mining

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board