Autumn 2015 Fine Art Auction Review

Published 9th October 2015

The John Constable RA (1776-1837) Oil Sketch entitled Landscape with Horses was undoubtedly the top lot realising £252,000 after a 15 minute battle between telephone bidders to secure this important and rare discovery that had impeccable provenance.

The highest price achieved in the Autumn 2015 Fine Art Auction was within the painting section of the sale where the John Constable painting depicting Landscape with Horses (FS28/409) created a huge stir. Taking nearly fifteen minutes to battle out between telephone bidders, this charming oil on canvas sketch by Constable finally went under the hammer for £252,000.

A rare set of six early 18th Century Walnut Open Armchairs (FS28/782) with superb provenance having belonged to the 8th Earl of Buckinghamshire sold for a staggering £21,000 at our South West of England saleroom complex.

A rare set of six early 18th Century walnut open armchairs (FS28/782) also proved to be highly sought after. With cartouche shaped backs with arcaded top rails with paper scroll crestings and having triple pierced vertical splats, shaped scroll arm supports and escutcheon shaped solid legs, terminating in pad feet, this unusual set were in great demand. They had superb provenance, being from the 8th Earl of Buckinghamshire and thence by family descent and realised a staggering £21,000.

A Mahogany Drop-dial Wall Clock (FS28/744) by Vulliamy of London was fought over by telephone bidders, ultimately succumbing to a winning bid of £8,800.

A mahogany drop dial wall clock by Vulliamy of London (FS28/744) proved popular too, with several phone bidders battling it out to reach its hammer price of £8,800.

The George III mahogany breakfront library bookcase (FS28/942) from Rockbeare Manor realised £32,000.

The George III mahogany sideboard table (FS28/940), also from Rockbeare Manor, sold for £18,000.

The largest lot in the sale, an impressive George III mahogany breakfront library bookcase (FS28/942) of large size from Rockbeare Manor, Exeter, Devon realised a good price. Measuring a massive 418.5cm (13ft 8 3/4in) long and 292cm (9ft 7in) high it was sold for £32,000.

Also within the furniture section was a George III mahogany sideboard table (FS28/940) of arc outline, again from Rockbeare Manor, which realised £18,000.

Teignmouth Harbour (FS28/413) by local artist Thomas Luncy (1759-1837) did particularly well going under the hammer for £14,000.

Titmouse studies (FS28/339) by Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) fetched £7,200.

An oil on canvas by the local artist Thomas Luny (1759-1837) titled Teignmouth Harbour (FS28/413) exceeded expectations realising £14,000. Thomas Luny moved to Teignmouth in 1807. There he received a number of commissions, mostly from ex-mariners, local gentry and businessmen. His output in Devon continued at a pace and during the 30 years in Teignmouth he produced some of his best works.

A pretty watercolour heightened with bodycolour by the artist Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) of titmouse studies (FS28/339) went under the hammer for £7,200.

An Early 20th Century Gold and Diamond Mounted Three-stone Ring (FS28/286) sold for £5,000 at our auction rooms in Exeter in the South West of England.

Jewellery was selling well too, with an early 20th Century gold and diamond mounted three stone ring (FS28/286) with round brilliant cut central diamond estimated to weigh 1.5cts selling for £5,000.

Entries are currently being invited for the next Quarterly Fine Art Sale to be held on 19th/20th January 2016.

Auction Insights