Fine Art Auction Sale Preview
Published 15th October 2012
One of the highlights of the Autumn 2012 Quarterly Fine Art Sale to be held on Wednesday, 31st October 2012 and Thursday, 1st November 2012 is a rare bronze study of a woman (FS16/616) by Jules Bastien Lepage (1848–1884).
The figure of the woman has her hair tied back and she is wearing a long dress and shawl, leaning on a staff. In her biography of the artist published in 1894, Julia Cartwright mentions a bronze study of Jean d'Arc modelled as a shepherdess leaning on a crook. This appears to be one of twelve casts, one of which is currently with the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge and one was offered in Sotheby's 17th June 1986 sale as lot 61. The signed bronze is expected to fetch between £15,000 and £20,000.
Another highlight is a Chinese rhinoceros horn libation cup (FS16/573), which is finely carved overall with fruiting vines. This 17th/18th Century piece is expected to realise between £20,000 and £30,000.
Within the jewellery section of the auction, there is a stunning 18ct gold and diamond single stone ring (FS16/191), with central circular brilliant estimated to weigh 2.0cts, which carries a pre-sale estimate of £7,000-£9,000.
The picture section includes a charming oil on board by Miss Dorothea Sharp (1874–1955) entitled 'Paddling in the shallows' (FS16/255). Typical of her work, this painting is inscribed with the artist's address as Miss Sharpe, Balcony Studios, St Ives, Cornwall on the reverse. The pre-sale estimate is £2,500-£3,500
Within the furniture section, we are pleased to be selling on behalf of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter a pair of Victorian mahogany secretaire bookcases (FS16/831) which are expected to fetch between £3,000 and £4,000.