Working model of Fordson tractor scores high price at auction
14th March 2025
A working scale model of a diecast Chad Valley Fordson Major tractor with a clockwork mechanism was one of the highlights of the CCM Skipton’s March sale of Border Fine Arts, Beswick ornaments, toys and collectables.
The toy, which came in its traditional pale blue colour with red wheels, its original box and wind-up key, as well as the original 1953 receipt from Whitaker & Co, Ford dealers in Scarborough, was sold for £500.
A limited-edition Red Kite by renowned Cumbrian master sculptor and designer, Ray Ayres, who began working with and helped found Border Fine Arts in the early 1970s and reckons he has created circa 1,000 meticulously researched figurines depicting country life, was sold for £170.
The CCM Skipton sale has a few more creations by Mr Ayres, including a Golden Eagle, which was sold for £65.
A limited edition Highland Challenge figurine featuring two fighting stags by another well-known Border Fine Arts Scottish artist, Mairi Laing Hunt, went under the hammer at £125, followed at £100 for Massey Ferguson 35X tractor, with £60 selling prices achieved for three further Border Fine Arts pieces, 1996 Robin and Blue Tit sets by Russell Willis, plus an Otter and Fish.
Among the lots on offer were also bird and nature pieces, as well as train sets.
Farm-related items on sale
The CCM team said that the business remains one of the few UK auction centres concentrating on specialist Border Fine Arts and Beswick sales, farm-related items in particular, with the remit now expanded to include vintage Britains Farm Toys, Europe’s oldest specialist in agricultural toys and collectables, plus other household names such as Corgi and Matchbox, again primarily farm-related lots, plus china, model railways and diecast models.
The next sale of Border Fine Arts, Beswick will take place on Saturday, 10th May, with entries closing on 11th April. The event will be followed by the annual Christmas fixture scheduled for Saturday, 13th December.
The 2024 festive sale attracted a bumper 284 pieces and a top price of £2,000 for the rare and limited edition Border Fine Arts ‘Standing Firm (red)’ depicting a Kerry Hill ewe, twin lambs, and a red and white border collie.
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