Global Demand Drives January Sales
January has set a confident tone for the year at McTear’s, with strong results across a diverse programme of specialist auctions highlighting both the resilience of the market and the auction house’s growing international reach.
Across the month, nearly 4,000 lots achieved over £1 million in sales, with impressive prices in Jewellery, Scottish Contemporary Art, Whisky, Asian Works of Art and Scottish Pictures, among others.
With bidders taking part online, by telephone and in the sale room, the breadth of participation reflects an industry in robust health - and one increasingly defined by global engagement.
McTear’s long-standing focus on developing and refining specialist auctions has made it easier than ever for collectors to discover works of art, antiques and ancient artefacts tailored to their interests. Paired with continual advancements in bidding technology, the auction house now connects with buyers in over 190 countries, ensuring each sale attracts attention far beyond the UK
LOT 460 IMPRESSIVE COLLECTION OF MIDDLE EASTERN BANGLES
SOLD FOR £16,700 TO A SCOTTISH BUYER
Jewellery, Scottish Contemporary Art and Silver emerged as the leading categories in January, with each achieving six-figure totals. The Jewellery Auction delivered particularly notable results, as diamonds and precious gemstones drew competitive bidding. Among the standout pieces was a spectacular collection of Middle Eastern bangles - twenty-one gold pieces with diamond-cut decoration - which realised £16,700.
LOT 22 * JOHN BELLANY CBE RA HRSA (SCOTTISH 1942 - 2013)
BOATBUILDING, PORT SETON (1964)
SOLD FOR £15,500 TO AN EDINBURGH BUYER
LOT 257 * JOE HARGAN PAI PPAI RGI (SCOTTISH b. 1952)
LYING IN A STATE
SOLD FOR £16,200 TO A GLASGOW BUYER
The Scottish Contemporary Art Auction also proved a highlight. John Bellany’s oil Boatbuilding, Port Seton (1964) sold for £15,500, while Joe Hargan’s oil on canvas Lying in a State was swiftly secured by a Glasgow collector for £6,200 - clear evidence of sustained demand for significant Scottish works.
LOT 136 SMWS ROCKLEY STILL 1986 CASK NO.3 SHAREHOLDERS BOTTLING BARBADIAN RUM
SOLD FOR £1,400 TO A NORFOLK BUYER
Already recognised as one of the country’s leading whisky auctioneers, McTear’s reinforced this reputation in January. Among hundreds of lots, an SMWS Rockley Still 1986 Cask No. 3 Shareholders Bottling Barbadian Rum achieved £1,400, heading to a buyer in Norfolk.
LOT 36 KING CHARLES III, HIS MAJESTY A NEW REIGN GOLF PROOF COIN COVER 2023
SOLD FOR £4,100 TO A SWISS BUYER
International bidding was a defining feature throughout the month. In the Coins Auction, a King Charles III New Reign Golf Proof Coin Cover sold to a Swiss buyer for £4,100.
LOT 400 GEORGE HENRY RA RSA RSW (SCOTTISH 1858 - 1943)
PORTRAIT OF MRS J H M KIRKWOOD
SOLD FOR £18,000 TO A HONG KONG BUYER
LOT 418 SIDNEY RICHARD PERCY (BRITISH 1821 - 1886)
KILCHURN CASTLE, LOCH AWE
SOLD FOR £15,400 TO A JAPANESE BUYER
LOT 481 * MARGARET MORRIS (BRITISH 1891 - 1980)
RAM GOPAL
SOLD FOR £5,300 TO A USA BUYER
The Scottish Pictures Auction saw particularly strong global competition: George Henry’s Portrait of Mrs JHM Kirkwood realised £18,000 to a Hong Kong collector, while works by Sidney Richard Percy and Margaret Morris were shipped to Japan and New York respectively.
LOT 1718 BEITHCRAFT SIDEBOARD, MID 20TH CENTURY
SOLD FOR £1,200 TO AN AUSTRALIAN BUYER
LOT 784 CHINESE BRONZE CENSER, MID/LATE 19TH CENTURY
SOLD FOR £12,000 TO AN ENGLISH BUYER
Design collectors were equally engaged, with a magnificent mid-20th-century Beithcraft sideboard selling to an Australian buyer for £1,200. Meanwhile, a lot in the Asian Works of Art Auction drew bidders from Spain, China, Hong Kong and the UK, with the mid-to-late 19th-century Chinese bronze censer ultimately selling for £12,000 to a buyer in England.
LOT 54 FINE GEORGE V SCOTTISH SILVER TRIO OF PEPPER POTS
HAMILTON & INCHES, EDINBURGH 1912
SOLD FOR £2,400 TO USA BUYER
LOT 99 COLLECTION OF SILVER FLATWARE
18TH CENTURY AND LATER
SOLD FOR £2,400 TO USA BUYER
The Silver Auction rounded off the month with further international success. A fine 1913 George V Scottish silver trio of pepper pots - modelled in the form of shotgun cartridges - achieved £2,400 from a collector in Utah, USA, while a stunning collection of 18th Century silver flatware sold for over £10,000 to a Scottish buyer.
Taken together, January’s results demonstrate the advantages of a carefully curated specialist approach. By combining expertise with accessibility and global connectivity, McTear’s is well positioned for the months ahead - bringing remarkable objects to an ever-expanding audience of collectors around the world.
Advice on selling art, antiques, jewellery, watches, coins, medals, instruments, toys and models, whisky and wine is free and without obligation, available at McTear’s, online and at your home. Entries are invited for all specialist sales. To discuss consigning to a McTear's auction, call 0141 810 2280, email auction@mctears.co.uk or visit mctears.co.uk. You can also contact a specialist by clicking here and completing the short form.
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