January 2016 Fine Art Auction Preview

Published 23rd December 2015

A self-portrait by Robert Lenkiewicz (FS29/342) is being offered in the 19th/20th January 2016 Fine Sale in Exeter.

Day One of the January 2016 Fine Sale on 19th January 2016 commences with the silver auction with some choice items on offer.

A George V silver spirit kettle, stand and burner by the maker D & J Wellby Ltd (FS29/8) dated London 1914 and weighing 53.62ozs is expected to fetch £400-£600, whilst a matched silver King's pattern flatware service (FS29/47) by various makers and from varying dates has a pre-sale estimate of £1,800-£2,000. A sweet 19th Century French silver chocolate pot (FS29/90) with a domed hinged lid surmounted by a pair of love birds carries a pre-sale estimate of £400-£500.

One of the more unusual lots on offer in this section is a rare late George III silver table top novelty toothpick holder (FS29/151) in the form of a pig, mounted on a rectangular four wheel trolley. Dated London 1819 and measuring only 8.5cm, it is expected to fetch £800-£1,000.

A George V Silver Spirit Kettle with a Stand and Burner dating to 1914 (FS29/8) is being offered in our Two Day Fine Art Sale starting on 19th January 2016 at our salerooms in Exeter, Devon.

A Matched Silver King's Pattern Flatware Service (FS29/47) by various makers and with differing dates is included in the silver auction of the sale, which will also offer online bidding for those unable to attend the salerooms in person.

A 19th Century French Silver Chocolate Pot (FS29/90) is amongst the silverware on offer and carries a pre-sale estimate of £400-£500.

A rare late George III Silver Table Top Novelty Toothpick Holder produced in London in 1819 (FS29/151) is simply delightful!

Within the jewellery auction there are some exquisite pieces of jewellery on offer including an 18ct white gold and diamond single stone ring (FS29/270), the centre brilliant cut diamond estimated to weigh 2.2cts, between baguette cut diamond single stone shoulders. The pre-sale estimate is £5,000-£6,000. A stylish French Art Deco diamond mounted rectangular plaque brooch (FS29/242) is also expected to sell well with an estimate of £3,000-£3,500.

An 18ct White Gold and Diamond Single Stone Ring (FS29/270) is expecting bids of between £5,000 and £6,000.

The jewellery auction within the Fine Sale also offers a French Art Deco Diamond Mounted Rectangular Plaque Brooch (FS29/242), which is catalogued with a pre-sale estimate of £3,000-£3,500.

The third section of Day One sees a good selection of paintings, prints and photographs in the picture auction.

A self portrait of Robert O Lenkiewicz (1941-2002) with a red scarf (FS29/342) is estimated at £12,000-£15,000 and an oil on board by John Craxton (1922–2009) titled Roman Pots, archaeological find, the Downs (FS29/354) carries a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000.

An oil on panel by Henry Alken Junior (Samuel Henry Alken) (1910–1894) titled The Derby, 1875 (FS29/363) is expected to create interest with an estimate of between £4,000 and £6,000.

The Derby of 1875 was run on 26th May and was won by Galopin ridden by J Morris. The trainer was J Dawson of Newmarket and the horse was owned by Prince Batthyany. There were 18 runners from an initial entry of 198. The first prize was £4,950, equivalent to £2 million today.

John Craxton RA (1922-2009) - Roman Pots, Archaeological Find, The Downs, Cranborne Chase Beyond (FS29/354) is beinged offered in the picture auction.

Henry Alken Junior [Samuel Henry Alken] (1810-1894) - The Derby, 1875 (FS29/363) is inviting bids of between £4,000 and £6,000.

Edward Arthur Walton RSA (1860-1922) - The Gypsy Camp (FS29/410) is also inviting bids of between £4,000 and £6,000 at our Westcountry Saleroom Complex in Exeter in January 2016.

Orford Castle, Suffolk (FS29/411) by Henry Bright (1814-1873) is also being offered in the sale.

The Next Dance (FS29/422) by George Goodwin Kilburne (1839-1924) is another highlight of the picture auction.

Other highlights in this section include an oil on canvas by Edward Arthur Walton RSA (1860–1922) of The Gypsy Camp (FS29/410), a group of figures amongst woodland, which is estimated at £4,000-£6,000; an oil on canvas by Henry Bright (1814–1873) of Orford Castle, Sufflolk (FS29/411) with an estimate of £4,000-£6,000 and a watercolour by George Goodwin Kilburne (1839–1924) titled The Next Dance (FS29/422) estimated at £3,000-£5,000.

There is also a good selection of photographs on offer by Herbert George Ponting (1870-1935), Noel Chanan (b 1939) and Lewis Wickes Hine (1874-1940) with varying estimates. Examples include Ponting's Under the Purple Wisterias, Japan (FS29/452), Chanan's Street Scene, Varanasi (FS29/457) and Hine's George, A Worker in a Cotton Mill (FS29/462).

Herbert George Ponting (1870-1935) - Under the Purple Wisterias Japan Carbon Print (FS29/452) is amongst the early photography on offer.

Street Scene, Varanasi 1997 (a Selenium-toned silver print, printed in 1999) by Noel Chanan (b 1939) (FS29/457) is one of several prints by the photographer in the sale.

This gelatin-silver print by Lewis Wickes Hine (1874-1940, Winsconsin, USA) entitled 'George, A Worker in A Cotton Mill Vintage' (FS29/462) is is just one example of his work in the auction.

Day Two of the sale on 20th January 2016 commences with the ceramics and glass auction.

A Lalique vase Laurier of cylinder form numbered 947 and measuring 18cm high (FS29/487) has an estimate of £300-£400, whilst a Venini Occhi vase by Tobia Scarpa (FS29/489) from circa 1950 carries a pre-sale estimate of £800-£1,000.

A pair of Chinese blue and white sleeve vases (FS29/497) are also expected to create interest with an estimate of £500-£700, whilst a matched pair of Chinese blue and white square section bottles with ribbed cylindrical necks (FS29/502) depicting scenes from The Romance of the Western Chamber carry a pre-sale estimate of £2,000-£4,000.

A Chinese porcelain famille rose cockerel bowl (FS29/505) that bears paper labels for the Martin Hurst Collection No 535 and Loan Exhibition, Dorchester Hotel, 28th May to 18th June 1931, No 384 is inviting bids of £1,000-£2,000 and a Chinese famille verte biscuit Buddhist lion (FS29/506) carries an estimate of £1,500-£2,000.

A Lalique Vase 'Laurier' (FS29/487) is inviting bids of £300-£400.

A Venini 'Occhi' Vase by Tobia Scarpa (FS29/489) is also being offered in the ceramics auction.

A pair of Chinese Blue and White Sleeve Vases (FS29/497) that will be auctioned at our salerooms in Exeter during January 2016.

A highlight of the ceramics auction will be the matched pair of Chinese Blue and White Square-section Bottles (FS29/502) that carry a pre-sale estimate of £2,000-£4,000.

Another highlight within the ceramics auction will be Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Cockerel Bowl (FS29/505) that will be sold after 10:00am on the second day of Fine Sale, 20th January 2016.

This 23cm high Chinese Famille Verte Biscuit Buddhist Lion (FS29/506) is also being sold in the auction.

A Chinese famille rose miniature tripod censer (FS29/529) is also expected to create interest with an estimate of £800-£1,200.

There are some interesting Palissy Ware dishes on offer – the first by Francois Maurice (FS29/571) modelled with a lobster, snake, frog, two fish and scattered sea shells, which carries an estimate of £600-£900. Another, probably by the Landais family (FS29/572), is modelled with an eel, frog and shells amongst chicory and other foliage and is estimated at £300-£500, whilst the last of the examples of French Palissy Ware (FS29/573) is modelled with a lizard, small terrapin and frog and is estimated at £300-£400.

A Wedgwood 'Willow Fairyland' lustre vase and cover (FS29/577) carries a pre-sale estimate of £700-£900, whilst a fine early Worcester polychrome coffee cup (FS29/586) of octagonal form with scroll handle, painted with an elegant Chinese lady, two flower vases, butterflies and flowering plants is inviting bids of £1,000-£2,000. A rare large Chelsea 'Hans Sloane' dish (FS29/632) carries a pre-sale estimate of £800-£1,200.

The ceramics auction includes a Chinese Famille Rose Miniature Tripod Censer (FS29/529).

An example of the PalissyWare on offer in the ceramics auction: Francois Maurice, A Paris School Palissy Ware Dish (FS29/571).

Another PalissyWare example appearing in the auction: A Tours School Palissy Ware Dish, probably by the Landais Family (FS29/572).

An oval French Palissy Ware Dish (FS29/573) is attracting bids of £300-£400.

A Wedgwood 'Willow Fairyland' lustre vase and cover designed by Daisy Makieg-Jones (FS29/577) carries a pre-sale estimate of £700-£900.

A fine early Worcester Polychrome Coffee Cup (FS29/586) is expected to realise between £1,000 and £2,000.

A rare large Chelsea 'Hans Sloane' dish with lobed rim (FS29/632) is anticipated a winning bid of £800,£1,200.

The works of art auction offers some unusual lots as always. A 19th Century continental double-barrel side-by-side flintlock sporting gun (FS29/683) is estimated at £1,300-£1,500, whilst an unusual late 18th Century Chinese export reverse mirror painting (FS29/725) depicting opium smokers seated around a table in an interior is estimated at £2,500-£3,500. A pair of Chinese two colour cinnabar lacquer carved vases (FS29/729) are also expected to be prized at £600-£800.

A 19th Century 3 inch Cox's terrestrial globe on a stand (FS29/776) carries a pre-sale estimate of £600-£800 and a rare 18th Century English enamel rectangular box of Theatrical interest (FS29/795) is offered at £400-£600. A stylish pewter biscuit box to a design by Archibald Knox (FS29/796) is expected to fetch between £250-£300, whilst an Archibald Knox design for Liberty and Co Tudric pewter and green glass bowl (FS29/801) no 0924 carrries a pre-sale estimate of £400-£600.

The works of art auction includes many exciting lots, including a 19th Century Continental Double Barrel Side by Side Flintlock Sporting Gun (FS29/683).

The Works of Art auction also includes an unusual late 18th Century Chinese Export Reverse Mirror Painting (FS29/725), which is inviting bids of between £2,500 and £3,500.

The sale includes a pair of Chinese two-colour cinnabar lacquer carved vases of lobed baluster form with waisted neck and flared rim (FS29/729).

A 19th Century 3 Inch Cox's Terrestrial Globe on Stand (FS29/776).

A rare 18th Century English Enamel Rectangular Box of Theatrical Interest (FS29/795) is amongst the Works of Art.

A Tudric Pewter Biscuit Box to a design by Archibald Knox (FS29/796) is also on offer in the sale, which will also be supported by live Internet bidding.

The sale also includes another Archibald Knox design: A Tudric Pewter and Green Glass Bowl (FS29/801).

The final section of the sale includes furniture and carpets and there is plenty on offer with some two hundred lots for sale.

A Turkish carpet (FS29/881) of large size having a brick red field with design repeating square medallions with stellar centres and measuring 471cm x 402cm has an estimate of £800-£1,200, whilst an Isfahan rug (FS29/891) is expected to fetch £1,000-£1,500.

Within the oak section of the furniture auction is an 18th Century oak dresser (FS29/900), measuring 150cm with an estimate of £800-£1,200 and a 17th Century carved oak court cupboard (FS29/898) with an estimate of £2,000-£3,000. A harlequin set of four early 19th Century elm, ash and fruitwood stick back Windsor elbow chairs (FS29/916) carries a pre-sale estimate of £500-£700.

An early 18th Century walnut oyster veneer crossbanded and inlaid chest on a later stand (FS29/929) should also have several potential buyers with an estimate of £3,000-£4,000.

The furniture auction offers a range of rugs and carpets, including this Turkish carpet (FS29/881).

Amongst the Oak furniture is this 18th Century Oak Dresser (FS29/900).

The aak furniture also includes this 17th Century Carved Oak Court Cupboard (FS29/898).

A harlequin set of four early 19th Century elm, ash and fruitwood stick back Windsor elbow chairs (FS29/916) is amongst the furniture.

An early 18th Century walnut oyster veneer crossbanded and inlaid chest on later stand (FS29/929).

There are various lots within the furniture auction from Rockbeare Manor, Near Exeter, Devon, including a Regency mahogany and inlaid circular drum top library table (FS29/983) with an estimate of £2,000-£3,000 and a late 18th Century Italian carved walnut pier table (FS29/1043) that is expected to fetch between £1,000-£1,500. A George III mahogany breakfront secretaire library bookcase (FS29/1091) invites bids of £4,000-£6,000.

From other sources, there is an Edwardian oak and decorated bookcase by Shapland and Petter (FS29/1085), which is similar to a bookcase illustrated in Darly Bennett's Shapland and Petter Ltd of Barnstaple – Arts and Crafts Furniture (published in 2005) on page 88. This example carries a pre-sale estimate of £1,500-£2,000.

A 17th Century lead water cistern (FS29/1089) of D shaped outline with a date of 1653 and initials W over T S (For Thomas and Sarah Wren) is estimated at £2,000-£3,000.

A Regency Mahogany and Inlaid Circular Drum Top Library Table (FS29/983) from the Rockbeare Manor Collection.

This late 18th Century Italian Carved Walnut Pier Table (FS29/1043) is also from the Rockbeare Manor Collection.

The Georgian furniture also includes a George III Mahogany Breakfront Secretaire Library Bookcase (FS29/1091), which is expected to realise between £4,000 and £6,000.