THIS carpet rescued from a skip during a house clearance has just been sold in Taunton for £5,500.

It had been lurking unloved in a cellar for some time and its owner instructed a contractor carrying out the house clearance to throw it out.

But rather than seeing it end up being burying at the tip, the worker thought it might be worth something.

So it was taken to Greenslade Taylor Hunt's Octagon Salerooms, in East Reach, where valuer Simon Rayner entered it into this month's antiques sale.

No fewer than six phone lines fought for ownership of the red ground carpet with central medallion at the auction.

Initially interest had came online for the carpet, but this was edged out by determined phone bidders, who pushed the bidding to £5,500 – the top price of the day.

The result ensured the homeowner enjoyed an unexpected monetary boost thanks to the efforts of the canny clearance contractor.

An attractive seascape by Charles Napier Hemy was another success.

Entitled 'The Little Yacht, Falmouth', it sparked a good deal of pre-sale interest.

A phone caller emerged as the successful bidder with a call of £4,500 for the painting.

The artist, born in Newcastle, moved to Falmouth in 1881, where he remained until his death in 1917. Two of his works are in the Tate collections.

Four oil on board flower paintings by Anne Cotterill, which had come from a local private deceased estate, also appealed to sale-goers.

The pick of the bunch was a study of roses, which made £850 and was bought by an internet bidder.

A run of agricultural themed Border Fine Arts ceramics from a local collection together achieved just shy of £4,000.

An 18ct opal ring was the standout lot in the jewellery section and sold to a phone bidder for £1,200.

A late 19th Century/early 20th Century hair-work heart charm or pendant sold for £900.

The next monthly sale takes place on Thursday, March 2, from 10am.

It will be followed on Friday, March 3, by the first quarterly collectors’ sale of 2023.

For information on both events and to consign items, contact the salerooms on 01823 332525.