April 2016 Fine Art Sale Preview
Published 30th March 2016
Day One of the April 2016 Fine Art Sale on 19th April 2016 starts off with the silver auction. Although there is not a vast quantity of lots in this part of the sale, there are some good select pieces on offer.
A 19th Century Continental silver ring casket (FS30/56) of shell shaped outline carries a pre-sale estimate of £400-£500 and a Victorian silver four-piece tea and coffee service (FS30/70) by the maker Samuel Smily (Goldsmiths Alliance) is expected to fetch £500-£700.
An impressive set of twelve George III silver dishes (FS30/78) by the maker William Stroud of London, dated 1802, is also expected to create interest. The coronet and crest that it bears are that of William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester (1768–1843), who was one time Governor of Jamaica and Collector of the Customs for the Port of London. The pre-sale estimate is £2,000-£2,500.
Jewellery and Watches then take centre stage, with a Second World War desk watch by Lange & Sohne (FS30/102) on offer with an estimate £3,000-£5,000 and a Patek Philippe gentleman's 18ct gold 'Eclipse' automatic wristwatch (FS30/111) being offered with a pre-sale estimate of £3,500-£4,000.
There is a good selection of amber in this section of the sale. There is a graduated amber bead single string necklace (FS30/187) that carries an estimate of £1,000-£1,500, whilst a long graduated single string necklace (FS30/191) is expected to fetch £1,500-£2,000.
A stylish Art Deco platinum faced gold, emerald and diamond bracelet (FS30/193) will be keenly sought after with an estimate of £4,000-£5,000 and a gold, sapphire and diamond two stone crossover ring (FS30/228) is inviting bids of £2,500-£3,000. If diamonds are more to your taste then perhaps the three stone diamond ring (FS30/230) on offer might be of interest, with stones of 0.95ct, 1.05ct and 1.00ct and an estimate of £3,500-£4,000.
Day One concludes with the paintings auction within the sale and there are plenty of lots on offer for all budgets.
A pen, ink and watercolour heightened with bodycolour by John Piper (1903-1992) entitled Menerbes (FS30/280) has an estimate of £5,000-£7,000. Menerbes is a commune in the Vaucluse in South East France formed as a walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon Mountains. It became a mecca for artists. Nicholas de Stael and Picasso each owned properties there. The region grows lavender, mushrooms and a harsh red wine.
A painting titled Monca (sic) and Death Project 2, Death and the Maiden 1974 by Robert O Lenkiewicz (1941–2002) is also expected to created interest and is estimated at £2,000-£3,000.
A painting by Georgette Rondel (1915-1942) of St Stephens Green, Dublin (FS30/293) has a pre-sale estimate of £3,000-£4,000, whilst an oil on canvas of a Chelsea Pensioner by Charles Spencelayh (1865–1958) (FS30/336) is expected to realise £2,000-£3,000.
Other highlights include Lilian Cheviot's oil on canvas of Dartmoor Ponies (FS30/393) with an estimate of £1,200-£1,800 and a farmstead scene by Peter Gerardus Van Os (FS30/410) depicting a horse, sheep and a goat with a view of a farm and windmills beyond. It is an oil on panel and carries a pre-sale estimate of £1,200-£1,800.
Day Two of the auction on 20th April 2016 starts with ceramics and glass.
A large Chinese sancai-glazed pottery figure of a camel (FS30/473) from the Tang Dynasty, standing on a base is estimated at £1,000-£2,000, whilst a pair of Chinese eggshell porcelain lime-green ground vases (FS30/520) of ovoid form with waisted neck and everted rim, finely painted with lotus blooms and leafy strapwork and other flowers carries a pre-sale estimate of £1,500-£2,000. A pair of Chinese coral ground famille rose vase (FS30/522) has an estimate of £2,000-£4,000, whilst a Royal Worcester Aesthetic teapot and cover of double sided form (FS30/564) being a satirical view of Oscar Wilde and the Aesthetic Movement is also set to create interest. One side is with him limp wristed and sporting a sunflower and verso with a female follower in similar pose sporting a lily. The pre-sale estimate is £1,500-£1,800.
Next up are the works of art in the sale. A pair of Chinese cloisonné rectangular plaques (FS30/611) is expected to create interest inviting bids of £3,000-£4,000, whilst a 19th Century Cantonese lacquer games box (FS30/637) enclosing thirteen ivory puzzles carries a pre-sale estimate of £1,200-£1,500.
From Japan, is a rare set of hand-coloured woodblock prints of 'The twelve Divas' (FS30/644). with an estimate of £5,000-£7,000.
Also of particular note within the works of art is a rare late 18th/early 19th Century cryptograph folding cipher machine (FS30/719) carrying a pre-sale estimate of £3,000-£5,000.
The last section of the auction sees the furniture being offered for sale. Highlights include an early 18th Century walnut double dome bureau cabinet (FS30/816) estimated at £1,500-£2,000, a Regency rosewood carved giltwood and brass mounted chiffonier in the manner of George Oakley (FS30/846), which is being offered for sale with an estimate of £10,000-£15,000.
A pair of Regency rosewood and brass inlaid card tables (FS30/848) (one re-polished) is expected to fetch between £3,000 and £5,000 and an early Victorian oak library bookcase of large size (FS30/881) measuring 284cm in length and 272cm high is estimated at £4,000-£6,000.
Another highlight is the late 19th Century satinwood and inlaid Carlton House writing desk by John Watson, 8 New Oxford Street, WC (FS30/885) estimated at £4,000-£6,000 and a Louis Vuitton brown canvass, brass and leather bound trunk (FS30/921) with an estimate of £1,200-£1,500.