A POOLE saleroom has achieved a record price for a piece of English furniture.

During a day-long sale at Davey & Davey in St Peter's Road, a handsome George III chest of drawers sold for £135,000.

"I was gobsmacked," said auctioneer Neil Davey, as the price rose higher and higher. "It was an exceptional price for an exceptional piece of furniture."

He said: "I was told it was the best price so far this year for a piece of English furniture outside of London. We are very happy with the result and looking for more."

The inlay decorated George III (1738-1820) chest of drawers is known as a commode - but is not the chamber-pot we normally associate with the word.

It went in to the sale from a house in Bournemouth and was bought by a Bond Street antique dealer.

This was the main event of the sale, but among the 1,200 items that went under the hammer during the day, were three items associated with Admiral Lord Nelson.

A bronze snuff box made to commemorate the death of Nelson in 1805, with his likeness on the lid, sold for £110.

The white ensign flag which had flown over his flagship, HMS Victory in dry-dock in Portsmouth in 1992, was bought by an enthusiast for £150.

And a mahogany oval table made from the wreckage of a ship destroyed in battle in 1797, exceeded its £200-£300 estimate and sold for £460.

Made in the 1870s, with a silver plaque depicting the ship and battle, it came down through Parkstone family members of Captain Hardy, who comforted the dying Nelson at Trafalgar.

First published: August 11