Westcountry Fine Art Auction Review
Published 29th January 2015
Day One of the fine sale at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood got off to a good start with the silver auction. Highlights included a Victorian silver fiddle and thread pattern flatware service (FS25/49) dated for 1896/1897, which sold for £1,450.
Also in the silver section was a Chinese silver three piece tea service (FS25/104), maker KC, of ovoid outline with prunus blossom and foliate decoration, which sold for £2,000.
Prices within the jewellery auction were equally buoyant with an early 20th Century moonstone fringe necklace (FS25/215) selling for £2,400, a sapphire and diamond circular cluster ring (FS25/242) selling for £2,900 and a diamond single stone ring (FS25/264) weighing approximately 3.1cts sold for £8,600.
The painting auction of the sale included a few surprises including a portrait of a girl wearing a bonnet and jade bangle (FS25/332) by the artist Walter Sauer (1889–1927), which went beyond the estimate of £800-£1,200 to sell for £3,300.
Also in the same section was a lovely oil on canvas by Robert Gregory (1881-1918) (FS25/361) that realised £5,500, an oil on canvas by Peter Brook (1927–2009), titled Lifting Mist (FS25/368), which realised £6,000 and a charming oil on board by Mary Fedden (1915–2012) (FS25/403) depicting Spring flowers, crocus and pansies in a pot, which sold for £7,600.
The picture section concluded day one of this prestigious auction.
Day Two started with the ceramics auction as always, the Chinese porcelain didn't fail to disappoint. A Chinese blue and white 'Three Friends of Winter' saucer dish (FS25/468) with Qianlong seal mark sold for £10,000, whilst a large Chinese Famille rose jardinière (FS25/480) went under the hammer for £2,500.
A Lenci earthenware figure 'Zizi' (FS25/561) after an original by Helen Konig Scavini realised £5,000 and a rare Sevres pot pourri 'Pompadour' vase and cover (FS25/589) sold for £4,900.
The works of art auction saw a violin by Fritz Arnold Bruckner (FS25/611) sell for £1,700 and an extensive single owner collection of German and German Independence state coinage (FS25/617) go under the hammer for £5,400, whilst a Chinese bronze tripod censer (FS25/627).
The furniture auction of the sale got off to a good start, with a Turkish Carpet (FS25/751) of very large size going under the hammer. Measuring 26ft 8in x 23ft 5in, it realised £15,000, after fierce telephone bidding from 12 separate phone lines, plus two internet platforms.
A late 17th Century walnut oyster veneer, sycamore banded and inlaid rectangular chest (FS25/773) exceeded estimate, selling for £3,200 and an early 20th Century two tier cut glass chandelier (FS25/834) sold well above estimate at £4,600.
The next quarterly fine sale is to be held at the Auction Rooms in Okehampton Street, Exeter on 21st/22nd April 2015.