South West Fine Art Auction Preview January 2022

Published 7th January 2022

An Emerald and Diamond Ring (FS52/722) offered in our Three Day Fine Art Sale starting on 18th January 2022 at our salerooms in Exeter, Devon.

The forthcoming Fine Art Sale is the biggest to date, with over 1,600 lots being offered over three days and some stunning lots in all disciplines.

Day One of the auction (Tuesday, 18th January 2022) commences with the silver section and there are nearly 300 lots on offer, including a Victorian cut glass and silver mounted claret jug (FS52/223), maker Mappin Brothers, London 1897, which has an estimate of £200-£250 and a William IV Irish silver tea kettle and stand (FS52/276), maker William Nolan, Dubli, 1832, which is inviting bids of £600-£800.

A Victorian Cut Glass and Silver Mounted Claret Jug, Maker Mappin Brothers, London, 1897 (FS52/223).

A William IV Irish Silver Tea Kettle and Stand, Maker William Nolan, Dublin, 1832 (FS52/276).

Jewellery follows, again with a large number of lots. It is difficult to choose the highlights from this section, as there are many beautiful pieces, including an emerald and diamond ring (FS52/722), the rectangular cut emerald, stated to weigh 4.65 carats, in a four claw setting between stepped baguette cut diamonds, approximately 1.00 carat total, ring size M 1/2. This stunning ring is inviting bids of £15,000-£20,000, whilst an 18 carat gold, platinum and diamond ring (FS52/688), the central diamond estimated to weigh 1.30 carats, in a six claw setting, between brilliant cut diamond set shoulders, stamped 750 and 950, ring size M ½ is expected to realise £5,000-£6,000 when it goes under the hammer on 18th January 2022.

An 18 Carat Gold, Platinum and Diamond Ring (FS52/688).

Day Two of the auction (Wednesday, 19th January 2022) sees the ceramics under the hammer. There is a good collection of Chinese ceramics, including a large Chinese blue and white cylindrical brush pot (FS52/806), Bitong, painted with a continuous lake landscape scene with buildings and a fisherman in a sanpan, mountain peaks in the background, lingzhi fungus mark, Kangxi, 18cm diameter [cracked, firing fault]. The pre-sale estimate for this is £2,000-£4,000, whilst an Iranian, possibly Nishapur pottery ewer (FS52/854) of bulbous form with raised waisted neck the body moulded with a band of wild animals amongst foliage, above a band of stiff leaves under a lustrous grey glaze, 23cm high, is expected to fetch between £1,000-£1,200.

A Large Chinese Blue and White Cylindrical Brush Pot, Bitong (FS52/806).

An Iranian, Possibly Nishapur Pottery Ewer (FS52/854).

Paintings are up next, with Louis Wain's (1860-1939) The Night Before Christmas (FS52/1079) - signed bottom right watercolour en grisaille heightened with white. Measuring 54x75cm, this delightful painting is inviting bids of £2,000-£3,000 and an oil on canvas by Edgar Hunt (1876-1953) - Chicken and chicks in a stable yard (FS52/1113), signed and dated 1911 bottom right, oil on canvas, 19.5x24.5cm is inviting bids of £2,000-£3,000.

Louis Wain (1860-1939): The Night Before Christmas (FS52/1079).

Edgar Hunt (1876-1953): Chicken and Chicks in A Stable Yard (FS52/1113).

The final day of the sale commences with works of art section and there are many treasures on offer. A 19th Century bronze group of the Abduction of the Sabine Women after (Flemish 1529-1608) (FS52/1389) has a pre-sale estimate of £1,000-£1,200, whilst a Black Forest carved linden wood smoker's companion (FS52/1348) in the form of a dog's head and paws resting on a wall has an estimate of £250-£350.

After Giambologna (Flemish 1529-1608): A 19th Century Bronze Group of the Abduction of the Sabine Women (FS52/1389).

A Black Forest Carved Linden Wood Smoker's Companion (FS52/1348).

Furniture and rugs are the last to be offered on Thursday, 20th January 2022 and there are over 300 lots on offer. Of particular note is a fine 19th Century French mahogany, ebonised, marquetry and ormolu mounted side cabinet (FS52/1749), with an estimate of £8,000-£12,000 and a South German, probably Nuremberg parquetry worked, oak and walnut cabinet on chest (FS52/1601). With excellent provenance, it was purchased in Nuremburg in the later 19th century by the Hon Eleonora Anstruther (née Chetwynd). After which the cabinet on chest passed to her sister, the Hon Katharine Frances Blezard (née Chetwynd) - these the daughters of Richard Walter Chetwynd, 7th Viscount Chetwynd of Bearhaven. Then by descent through Ruth Gladys Barnes (née Blezard) to Olivia Staughton (née Barnes) and to her son and daughter-in-law, the current owners. The pre-sale estimate is £3,000-£5,000.