Fine Art Auction Review (1)
Published 29th January 2018
The top two selling lots of the latest Fine Art Sale at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood on 22nd, 23rd and 24th January 2018 were both within the jewellery auction of the sale.
Firstly, a diamond mounted jabot pin, with two pear-shape clusters (FS37/485), each pave set with a central pear shaped diamond approximately 1.0cts within a surround of round old brilliant cut diamonds, the diamonds estimated to weigh a total of 7.0cts, sold for £17,500 and a gentleman's stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT Master Superlative Chronometer (FS37/397) sold for £12,000.
Other highlights in the jewellery included a 20th Century diamond solitaire ring (FS37/531), the diamond estimated to weigh 2.0cts, sold for £5,500 and another diamond solitaire ring (FS37/509) sold for £5,000.
The Flowerday Collection of 18th Century porcelain sold extremely well – some of the high points included a First Period Worcester coffee can (FS37/125) decorated in the workshops of James Giles, with a bullfinch perched on a leafy branch, a colourful butterfly to the reverse, dating from circa 1770–72 that sold for £6,100 and a Lowestoft Royal Commemorative mug (FS37/79) with a crown and banner inscribed 'Long Live the King' below a dot loop and arrow border sold for £5,300.
A Chelsea bonbonniere (FS37/28) in the form of a lady's head, wearing a black mask with inset rose diamond eyes and pink trimmed bonnet with feather plume also exceeded expectations selling for £4,600, whilst a matched pair of Chelsea bonbonnieres (FS37/23) modelled as a lady and a gentleman's head sold for £4,200.
In the paintings auction of the sale, an oil on canvas titled The Love Letter by Haynes King (1831-1904) (FS37/609) sold for £4,800. Another painting, a watercolour, by Andrew MacCallum (1821-1902) titled The Fire at Clerkenwell (FS37/643) exceeded expectations selling for £5,800. On the reverse of the painting there was an inscription which read 'Dedicated to the Gallant Captain Shaw and The Brave Fire Brigade'. It is understood that the mural of the fire that was based on the present lot was put up in Clerkenwell but was later destroyed during the blitz.
A fun watercolour, pen and ink by Louis William Wain (1860-1939) titled Mrs Tabby's Academy (FS37/561) attracted a great deal of interest and realised £3,800.
Furniture prices proved to be very buoyant for this first fine art sale of 2018, with a 19th Century walnut and parcel gilt architectural mirror in the George II taste (FS37/1209) being extremely sought after. With acanthus decorated broken pediment centred by a palmette spray and having a similar palmette and acanthus scroll frieze, this lot created a frenzy of excitement on the Internet and with telephone bidders and, following fierce bidding, was eventually sold for £5,400.
Also in great demand was a 17th Century and later oak tester bed (FS37/1112), which sold for £4,000 and a lacquered longcase clock by Thomas Loftus of Wisbech (FS37/1074) realised £7,000.
In the works of art auction of the sale prices were strong, with a bronze study of a tiger with two cubs by Akasofu Gyoko (Meiji period) (FS37/894) selling for £4,100 and a fine Japanese ivory and boxwood okimono of Nio slaying Oni demons (FS37/900) carrying a carved hardwood temple bell over his shoulder whilst demons tumble from the bell realised £4,000.
Entries are currently being invited for the next Fine Art Sale to be held on 10th/11th April 2018.