A BEAUTIFUL bronze figure of a classically dressed female draughtswoman was the top attraction at Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s August antiques sale.

The work signed by the French artist Edouard Drouor (1859-1945) depicted the woman seated with plans of a locomotive on a marble base. It was bought for £1,175.

Slightly behind this was a rather unremarkable, but early oak stool. It set the internet ablaze as numerous bidders aimed for ownership. An internet bidder paid £1,145.

There was a considerable selection of West Country art in the auction at The Octagon Salerooms, East Reach, Taunton.

No fewer than 10 works by auction room favourite Harry Frier were included in the sale. The best seller among these was a signed watercolour of The Winchester Hotel, Taunton, which fetched £740.

Another Taunton scene – St James’ Street Almshouses signed and dated 1905 went to an online bidder, who paid £405, while an atmospheric study of King Alfred’s Monument, Athelney, went to a commission bidder for £370.

Moving away from the West Country a bold acrylic on canvas by Papua New Guinean artist Mathias Kauage proved another internet hit and was bought for £535.

A smart silver cocktail shaker, which had been well viewed prior to the sale, did not disappoint and went to an internet bidder who paid £825.

Among a stylish jewellery section a diamond panel ring took top honours and sold to a phone bidder who bought the ring for £1,050, while an Edwardian diamond drop pendant went home with a room bidder for £800.

An attractive set of silver and tortoiseshell scales hallmarked London 1917 sold for £635.

A George III mahogany cupboard was another strong performer and sold for £480.

A group of four limited edition Royal Doulton “evacuee” figures sold for £345 and a pair of Canton famille verte bottle vases went to an internet bidder for £330.

The saleroom can always be relied on to include the niche and unusual. This time the honour went to a box of 19 Cuban Monte Cristo cigars. The box had been opened and had originally contained 26 cigars, but still sold for £150.

The auctioneers return to The Octagon on Friday, August 18, for a specialist militaria sale. For full details please contact the saleroom on 01823-332525.