Love is in the air at Moore Allen & Innocent this week, where antiques auctioneers are offering unique gift ideas at their Valentine’s Day sale.
Among the hundreds of lots at the Cirencester auction rooms is a Royal Doulton figurine called, appropriately, Lovers.
The 12 inch (30cm) tall piece of black basalt pottery was designed by D V Tootle in a minimalistic style, and was produced between 1981 and 1992 in limited edition.
This one carries an estimate of £50 to £80.
For anyone who still writes romantic love letters in this age of texting and electronic messaging, an early 20th century blotter may appeal.
In romantic red leather with silver mounts featuring Renaissance-style images of couples in embrace, the blotter was produced by silversmiths John & William F Deakin of Sheffield in 1905.
You won’t find another in the Cotswolds, and this one carries an estimate of £100 to £150.
Everyone loves a cryptic message on Valentine’s Day, and the clue to the sentiment in a love token brooch lies in taking the initial letter of each gemstone to form a word or phrase.
This costume jewellery example, which features paste jewels, takes the form of a bow and carries an estimate of £50 to £80.
Finally, a cutesy 1948 Benjamin Bunny ceramic figurine by Beswick – while loveably appealing – is not all that he seems.
Benjamin is depicted wearing Mr McGregor’s tam-o’-shanter hat – a story well known to fans of the Beatrix Potter book.
But flip the four-inch tall figurine over, and the stamp mistakenly suggests that this is Jemima Puddle-Duck, not Benjamin Bunny at all!
This printing error makes the figurine quite collectable, and it should achieve around £30 to £50.
The auction will be held on Friday, February 14. For a full auction catalogue, log on to www.mooreallen.co.uk