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Preview of April 2011 Fine Art Sale in Exeter, Devon

Whilst it is the high value items we auctioneers make most noise about, it is often those items that display a great deal of time and effort in the making, but seem eminently affordable, or the more novel, obscure or abstract items that make the Fine Sale so appealing and dare I say eclectic at times.

The epitome of the glass makers art is encapsulated in a Facon de Venise vase (FS10/330) with an intricate display of blowing, tooling and trailing that is all the more astounding as it was produced in the 17th century.

Novelty of course always sells and there is always a market for pieces such, as lot 18, modelled on animals particularly when coupled with a good maker, Richard Comyns and an equally good retailer Asprey & Co.

Silverware by Richard Comyn

A three piece novelty 'frog' cruet set by Asprey & Co (FS10/18), modelled as one large and two smaller frogs seated in a pensive pose, with textured bodies, black and brown glass eyes, the larger frog a mustard pot with hinged head, complete with blue glass liner and forked tongue modelled by spoon maker Richard Comyns 1966, the frogs hallmarked for London 1967, the mustard 7cm high, 18ozs.
Estimate: £300-£400.

Understandably not many Inuit items make it to these shores particularly when they hallow from the tip of Alaska or the Chuckchi Peninsula. The two ivory discs that in the sale (FS10/530) seem even more obscure as they have been carved from mammoth tusk!

Inuit Ivory

An Inuit circular carved ivory disc (FS10/530) decorated with a face carved in low relief, 7cm diameter and a smaller oval carved plaque, 6cm high. Estimate: £600-£800.

In our last Fine Sale, we offered a group of four works by the, primarily West Country based, abstract artist Alexander Mackenzie (1923-2002) all of which were well received so we are happy once again to offer another striking work of the Yorkshire Dales entitled 'Austwick Landscape' (FS10/306).

Tags

  • Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
  • Okehampton Street, Exeter, Devon
  • Salerooms
  • Fine Art
  • Richard Comyns
  • Alexander Mackenzie (1923-2002)

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