A beautifully crafted bergere suite is one of the more interesting pieces in Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s September antiques auction.

The suite comprising a sofa and two matching armchairs is finely decorated with a lacquered chinoiserie design.

The vendors bought it from an estate sale at Brancepeth Castle, near Durham, following the death of the sixth Duke of Westminster.

The Duke – one of Britain’s wealthiest landowners - had bought the castle from Lord Boyne after the Second World War.

The elegant suite had originally graced the Orangery at Brancepeth Castle. It has a pre-sale guide of £300-£500.

Other sale highlights include a selection of Beswick models. Among the quirkier Beswick offerings is a delightful eight- member pig orchestra complete with conductor (pictured below).

Somerset County Gazette: UNUSUAL: Delightful Beswick pig orchestra among the items consigned for Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s September antiques sale.

There have been a number of strong selling Rolex watches at recent Greenslade Taylor Hunt sales, one of the most notable being a gentleman’s 1978 Rolex, Oyster, Perpetual Date, Submariner with its original paperwork, which sold for £12,000 in the July sale.

September’s sale offers a Rolex, Oyster, Perpetual Date stainless steel ladies bracelet watch (below). It has a pre-sale guide of £600-£800.

Somerset County Gazette: IN TIME: Ladies Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date stainless steel bracelet watch.

Amber beads have also caused a bit of a stir in the saleroom this summer with one set going for £2,345 in July and another in June making £2,700. September will feature another string of amber beads among a good selection of jewellery.

Somerset County Gazette: IN VOGUE: Amber beads have been big sellers at recent antiques sales at Greenslade Taylor Hunt.

The monthly sale takes place at The Octagon Salerooms, East Reach, Taunton, on Thursday, September 6. It will be followed on September 7 by the quarterly collectors’ sale.

This will include a strong entry of late 19th century British and US issue cigarette cards.

Railwayana is well represented. One of the more unusual entries is a Continental wash stand from a railway carriage.

Exemplifying once again the range of goods on offer at the collectors’ auctions is an AMANCO stationary steam engine on a wheeled trolley.

Both sales will be on view on Saturday, September 1, from 9am-12.30pm. For more details of the lots on offer please contact the saleroom on 01823 332525.