Gracie Fields decanter gift sold at auction in Ripon

The Art Deco silver tantalus is engraved "To Basil with love from Gracie”

Glass decanters gifted to English actor Basil Dean by cinema and music hall star Gracie Fields have sold for £4,200 at an auction in North Yorkshire.

The Art Deco silver tantalus, which are engraved "To Basil with love from Gracie", were sold at Elstob Auctioneers, in Ripon, on Wednesday.

It was estimated they would be sold for between £1,500 to £2,500.

David Elstob, director of the auction house, said the sale showed the stars' popularity "still hold strong".

He said: "It is fascinating to think that this wonderfully preserved object was part of a world of bygone glamour and fame.

"Gracie Fields and Basil Dean were amongst the biggest names of their day and their memories still hold strong in the hearts of the British public.

"There was a lot of interest in the lot before the auction and the fact that it went so far above its guide price is testimony to its value as a collector's piece."

Basil Dean and Gracie Fields worked together for several projects

Dame Gracie Fields was known as the star of cinema and music hall during the 1930s in Britain.

She starred in several films directed by Dean, including the 1934 musical Sing As We Go and the comedy classic Look Up and Laugh in 1935.

Dean was an actor, writer, producer and director for both theatre and cinema, and also founded the Liverpool Repertory Company in 1911.

Some of the other items that were auctioned off on Wednesday included a sterling silver frying pan by Tiffany & Co, as well as an Elizabeth II silver model of the Spirit of Ecstasy by GPS London 1997, signed by Charles Sykes.