Exmouth auctioneer Piers Motley writes for the Journal.

Exmouth Journal: Piers Motley-NashPiers Motley-Nash (Image: Piers Motley-Nash)

It's been a frenetic couple of weeks. We've just had our second three day sale this year with just over 2000 lots going under the hammer.

Top lot was for an Irish artist _ Frank McKelvey RHA RUA, Coastal Scene, oil on board, 42x29cm selling for £3,400 and the painting shall be going back to its homeland.

Second in line was a A Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk harking back to c. 1910, the likes of which would have been found on all the great ocean liners of the time and gone down with the Titanic.

Having been found in a farmer's barn it was not in the best of condition, with wood worm, rusting metal work and splits to the fabric covered wooden frame.

The hammer fell about five seconds after it was offered for £2,550.

The third was An Arts and Crafts Oak Chest of Three Drawers with twin door cupboard over in an American configuration and with brass fittings in a pattern similar to those by Richard Llewellyn Rathbone.

Rarely does furniture make a great deal of money these days, but quality furniture from this period is useable and has a significant following and sold for £2,430.

Longcase clocks also rarely make much of a mark in salerooms these days.

There are a few key names though which attract interest and one is William Clement of Totnes.

Earlier and not quite in the same league as William Stumbels, also of Totnes.

It sported an unrestored black japanned case needing quite a lot of work and made £2,190.

The strongest overall section of the sale was 400 lots of jewellery on the first day which sold for a combined £48,000.

When setting up the sale we had not considered that we had an extended Easter Bank Holiday afterwards, but this was a blessing. For the first time since just before Christmas I got to see my mother, sister and nephew on Easter Day.

The weather was a joy as we sat in her garden and had a picnic. Afterwards we had a great walk through some woodlands next to the Avon at Avonwick.

As I'm sure many of us feel it finally seems like life might be getting back to a bit of normalcy.

It's still a long way off, but just being able to see family and friends and having longer days is a great tonic.

We're out again this weekend walking with family and friends and enjoying a meal or cup of tea in the garden.

Missed parties are being re-planned, any excuse for a get together will be taken and as long as we continue to be sensible we'll all get through this.