A poster promoting the celebrated ales and stout of a 19th century Norwich brewery triggered a lively battle at last weekend's auction in the rooms, the first sale of the year.

The poster, which arrived at one of the Thursday morning discovery sessions at Brigg among a small private collection of breweriana, was printed for Steward Patteson Finch & Co, the largest of the Victorian East Anglian breweries.

The pre-sale estimate of less than £100 was left behind in around two seconds flat as bidders in the room and on the phone went at it – and kept going.

The hammer finally went down at £840, the lot knocked down to a telephone bidder.

Why the surprising price?

Rarity, of course, allied to the fact that it could be dated to the 19th century (Finch appeared in the brewery's name only in the period 1837-95) and the fact that, with the image of the chap taking a glass of XXXX K in the setting of a vault, it is a particularly attractive thing to collectors.

The result does also underline just how much interest there is in posters, breweriana, and commercial memorabilia.

Speaking of surprises, Lot 108 in the auction provided another: A mixed bag of ceramics that included a Royal Crown Derby Olde Avesbury pattern decorative plate, three further decorative Oriental plates and a Chinese shaped rectangular bowl on a stand.

We rated the lot at £25-£40. The hammer went down at £540, a mere fourteen times top pre-sale estimate, bought by a collector of Chinese antiquities based in Yorkshire, bidding on the Internet.

As readers will be aware, the market for Chinese antiquities is incredibly strong at the moment and the collector clearly took the view that the rectangular bowl on its stand was an interesting piece, possibly with some age to it.

In the light of sky-high gold prices, a lot of people are raising cash by sorting out their old jewellery boxes at the moment. This auction's jewellery, coins and watches section extended to 80 lots and achieved some excellent results.

An 1862 Victoria young head sovereign sold for £240 – to be expected – but a collection of ten one shilling coins from the Georgian period made £68 and a collection of pre-1947 silver coins, with a face value of two pounds and three shillings, went for £105.

Looking at examples of results in the jewellery: a pair of 9 carat gold cufflinks (9.5gm) sold for £420, an 18 carat gold solitaire sapphire ring, encircled with diamonds, went for £370 and a pair of 14 carat gold rings set with diamonds made £240.

The best wristwatch was a 9 carat gold Accurist lady's timepiece that made £150, while a Swiss silver and enamel fob watch with a pearl-set bow shaped brooch went for £220.

An Edwardian boudoir grand piano once owned by Dame Emma Albani, the leading soprano of the late 19th century made £300.

We thought the link with Queen Victoria's favourite singer would raise interest, but it just did not happen.

Either Dame Emma is forgotten or, perhaps, the market for large pianos is somewhat limited.