Silver swan centrepiece surfaces at Burton Market Hall

Silver swan centrepiece surfaces at Burton Market Hall

A SILVER swan centrepiece in the form of the Royal bird so associated with Burton has surfaced at the town’s Market Hall.

Taking the form of a realistically textured swan complete with gold-plated beak, the Elizabeth II table centrepiece goes under the hammer with Richard Winterton Auctioneers as Lot 127 on Monday, March 4.

It was consigned to auction by a Burton woman following a valuation with Mr Winterton at the family firm’s unit at Burton Market Hall and is expected to fetch in the region of £1,500 at auction.

The realistically textured silver swan with gold-plated beak weighs 4.7kg.

Hallmarked CJ Vander Ltd London 1971, the swan has an open centre revealing a removeable, metal mesh separator for flower arrangement.

The 36cm-long silver centrepiece stands 28cm tall, 20cm wide and weighs an impressive 4.7kg excluding the mesh interior.

Swans and Burton have a strong association, from real birds making their home on the River Trent to the iconic swan sculpture in Stapenhill Gardens, created by Burton Corporation Parks Department in 1953 – the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

The swan has an open centre for flower arrangement with an internal removeable mesh separator.

The word ‘swan’ has appeared in the names of numerous places, historical inns and sports teams.

And in 2020, super-sized swan sculptures brightened Burton’s town centre during the summer before they were auctioned off for charity by Richard Winterton Auctioneers, raising in excess of £11,000 for YMCA Burton.

Auctioneer Mr Winterton said: “Given Burton’s long association with swans, it was especially fitting that this sumptuous silver centrepiece came along to one of our valuations at Burton Market Hall.

Auctioneer Richard Winterton with the silver swan.

“It has already attracted a lot of interest from potential bidders and we look forward to seeing this swan fly at auction!”

The silver swan is Lot 127 in the March 4 Antiques & Home Sale starting at 9.30am.

The catalogue can be viewed online now and viewing in person at The Lichfield Auction Centre takes place between 10am and 4pm on Friday, March 1.

The silver swan was consigned to auction by a Burton woman following a valuation at Burton Market Hall.

Richard Winterton Auctioneers offers free antiques valuations at Burton Market Hall on Wednesdays from 10am-1pm and Saturdays 10am-12pm.

For valuation options at other times, call 01543 251081 or email office@richardwinterton.co.uk.

Free home visits for large collections and house clearance quotations are also available.