ANTIQUES INFO - September/October 14 T W Gaze of Diss, Norfolk featured its second 2014 dedicated auction of militaria in its specialist sale on 28th June. With a focus on the eighteenth - twentieth centuries, the room was packed with a large crowd and the sale also attracted interest from national and international buyers. Some of the most striking lots were in the headwear and uniform category and spanned the nineteenth century to post Second World War. Lot 8236, a Second World War British battle- dress jacket with trousers and belt to RAMC sparked interest going for £260. Lot 8314, an Edwardian home service pattern helmet fared well at £300. The uniforms included a number of lots relating to the same serviceman. A highlight was Lot 8005, a First World War RAMC Captain’s service dress jacket and trousers with belt. In a well preserved condition this lot sold for an impressive £500. More exciting still was an accompanying lot from the same serviceman, Lot 8004, a British Army Type I ‘Tommy’ helmet. With its original liner intact and a rarely seen canvas drawstring cover, it sold for a stunning £420 plus premium. Serving in Egypt during the First World War, the RAMC Captain collection included Lot 8008, the hot climate clothing worn during service. This group included cap with removable neck cover reached £320. Victorian uniforms included Lincolnshire Rifle Volunteers pieces. The hammer went down on a barrack dress jacket with peaked hats, (Lot 8002) for £460 with its accompanying parade / ceremonial dress jacket and trousers (Lot 8009) faring well at £380. Third Reich items were also featured, with a German M40 pattern helmet with decal reaching £360. This (Lot 8173) had its original liner and chinstrap. The vintage arms section saw some strong results, with Lot 8241, a Tower short flintlock sea service pistol firing away at £900. Lot 8241, a c1800 D. Egg of London Light Dragoon pistol made a fair £550; and Lot 8150B, a c1850 muzzle loading rifle reached £380. Lot 8150C A Play Fair shotgun, despite needing restoration, fetched £340. The biggest result of the firearms section was a surprise. Three unassuming looking pistols, Lot 8242, with elements missing including hammers and ramrods, and in need of complete repair and renovation ‘shot’ up to a startling £1,300. The sale saw a good collection of edged weaponry including daggers, swords and bayonets from the Orient, Indonesia and Europe. A notable lot was the far-eastern tanto, Lot 8106. With its foliate design brass scabbard and handle, this exceeded expecta- tions, with the hammer falling at £380. It is destined to return to the far-east. European weaponry included a First World War Belgian Army trench knife. This model, designed and made by Britain during the war made £220. British swords maintained their dominance in the English market, with some strong results. A seldom seen 1821 Pattern Light Cavalry sword, Lot 8144, made a strong £340; with its evolved (87 years younger) 1908 pattern cavalry sword (Lot 8145) reaching £320. Despite their size, with the right award, rarity, regiment, naming, condition and provenance a medal can fare well. Although this particular sale had a focus on edged weaponry and uniforms, we saw some positive results involving medals. Lot 8274, a Punjab Medal with Chilianwala and Goojerat clasps flew out at £440. Despite being in a worn condition, its rarity carried it to a strong price. Lot 8280A, a First World War British medal trio with Military Medal awarded to an ASC Private made £300, repre- senting its market value for a comparatively less desirable Corps. Amongst other good results was a Marine Chronometer by Thomas Mercer, with chain driven fusee movement, Lot 8080. This twentieth century example sold for £800, exceeding the estimate. In the optical section, Lot 8162, a pair of Carl Zeiss Third Reich binoculars fared well at £360. Landmark anniversaries of war in 2014 have put modern military history in the forefront of people’s minds. Documentaries, publications and the re-telling of the terror contrast with the romanticism of victory against the odds and this is inspiring collectors to look beyond the stories and seek artefacts to own for themselves. This growth of interest has noticeably enhanced the sale potential of original wartime militaria. With the definition of the word antique being “A collectable object that has a high value because of its age and quality”, I draw the conclusion that as most World War items are now over 70 years old, they are fast gaining an ‘antique’ status; so when fused with this growing enthusiasm, you have the basis for growing value and thus a growing market. This was highlighted in the Militaria sale. www.twgaze.com Militaria Mania at Norfolk Sale