April 2016 Fine Art Sale Review

Published 21st April 2016

There were many highlights in the April 2016 Fine Art Sale held at St Edmunds Court, Okehampton Street, Exeter on 19th and 20th April 2016.

Menerbes (FS30/280) by artist John Piper (1903-1992) realised £10,000 in our Two Day Fine Art Sale starting on 19th April 2016 at our salerooms in Exeter, Devon.

In the jewellery auction, a sapphire and diamond lozenge shaped brooch (FS30/177) exceeded expectations selling for £3,900, whilst a Patek Philippe gentleman's 18ct gold 'Ellipse' automatic wristwatch (FS30/111) went under the hammer for £3,600 and a Hermes lady's 18ct white gold and diamond set H wristwatch (FS30/113) realised £3,500.

The highlight of the silver auction was a set of twelve George III silver dishes by the maker William Stroud, London and dated 1802. The coronet and crest were that of William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester (1768-1843). Weighing in at 200.90ozs, this beautiful set sold for £3,100.

A sapphire and diamond lozenge shaped brooch (FS30/177) exceeded expectations, selling for £3,900.

This Patek Philippe gentleman's 18ct gold 'Ellipse' automatic wristwatch (FS30/111) sold for £3,600 at the auction in Exeter.

A Hermes lady's 18ct white gold and diamond set H wristwatch (FS30/113) realised £3,500.

The highlight of the silver auction within the Fine Sale was a set of twelve George III silver dishes (FS30/78), bearing the coronet and crest of William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester (1768-1843). They sold for £3,100.

In the picture auction, it was a Modern British painting that took centre stage. 'Menerbes' by John Piper (1903-1992) (FS30/280) created a great deal of interest on both the telephones and the internet. The pen, ink and watercolour, signed bottom left, inscribed with title bottom right depicted Menerbes, a commune in the Vaucluse, South East France. After fierce telephone bidding it was sold for £10,000. In the same section of the sale, a Maxwell Ashby Armfield (1881-1972) tempera picture of Puerto de Soller, Mallorca (FS30/284) was again sought after and finally went under the hammer for £3,000.

Peurto de Soller, Mallorca (FS30/284) by Maxwell Ashby Armfield (1881-1972) realised £3,000.

The demand for Chinese items was still very strong, with a pair of Chinese coral ground famille rose vases (FS30/522) exceeding expectations. Of slender rectangular section with waisted neck and base, each was finely painted on one side with magpies around a knarled flowering prunus tree and the other with a flowering and fruiting pomegranate tree. Bearing Qianlong marks and dating from the late 19th/early 20th Century they realised £5,200.

A Chinese bronze tripod censer (FS30/615) bearing six character mark also sold well at £5,000.

The Chinese coral ground famille rose vases (FD30/522) sold well above estimate at £5,200.

This Chinese Bronze Tripod Censer (FS30/615) succombed to a bid of £5,000.

In the works of art auction of the sale, a rare late 18th/early 19th Century cryptograph folding cipher machine (FS30/719) again exceeded expectations selling for £4,800 and an unusual tavern clock by Jeremiah Day of London (FS30/764) went under the hammer for £4,500. The always popular Louis Vuitton luggage proved no exception with a brown and wood batten, brass and leather bound Louis Vuitton trunk (FS30/921) selling for £2,900.

Furniture prices were strong too – an early Victorian oak library bookcase of large size (FS30/881) from the sale of the contents of Feniton Court, Near Honiton in 2005 proved popular selling for £3,600 and a pair of Regency rosewood and brass inlaid rectangular card tables (FS30/848) sold for £3,200.

A rare Late 18th /Early 19th Century Cryptograph Folding Cipher Machine (FS30/719) realised £4,800.

A Lacquered Tavern Clock (FS30/764) by Jeremiah Day of London fetched £4,500.

This Louis Vuitton Brown Canvas and Wood Batten, Brass and Leather Bound Rectangular Trunk (No 205236) (FS30/921) exceeded its estimate, selling for £2,900.