Winter 2014 Fine Art Auction Attracts International Attention
Rachel Littlewood reviews the Winter 2014 Fine Art Sale, which from the outset was
extremely busy in terms of interest from around the world in the items on offer.
The two day sale itself was frentic with several lots exceeding expectations, many
eventually succumbing after fierce international bidding over the telephone or via
the Internet.
A pair of George III carved mahogany pier tables (FS21/901) exceeded all expectations
to achieve £26,500 after fierce international bidding over the telephone and via
the Internet.
The highest selling price for the
quarterly fine art sale
was achieved by a
pair
of George III carved mahogany pier tables
(FS21/901) with later rectangular tops and moulded friezes. They had gadrooned aprons,
centred by foliate scroll designs and were raised on moulded square chamfered legs.
Having a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000, they exceeded all expectations
selling for £26,500 following stiff competition from both telephone and Internet
bidders from around the world.
The unique Penrose Irish Shell Cabinet (FS21/914), made in around 1800 by Elizabeth
Penrose, sold for an amazing £23,000.
Also within the
fine furniture auction
of the sale, there was the unique
Penrose Irish shell cabinet
(FS21/914). Made circa 1800 by Elizabeth Penrose, it is a fantasy grotto lined with
sea shells collected from the beaches around Tramore and along the tidal reaches
of the River Suir and fashioned into intricate patterns forming a cobbled arcaded
terrace populated with glass animals and swans from the Waterford Glass Factory.
Elizabeth Penrose, who was born in 1779, was an accomplished needlewoman and around
1799 started work on an ambitious project to create a fantasy grotto - the petals
of each of the flowers are made from individual shells, many hand tinted with watercolour.
Family tradition has it that it took several years to construct. The mirrors were
made for Elizabeth Penrose in the Waterford Glass Works. The cabinet sold for an
amazing £23,000.
This Doccia figure of a man wearing Roman Costume (FS21/649), dating from 18th century,
was another highlight of the sale, realising £21,000.
Another highlight of the sale was a
Doccia figure of a man wearing Roman Costume
(FS21/649). Dating from the 18th Century, this impressive piece sold for £21,000.
The pate-sur-pate porcelain vase (FS21/542) by Frederick Alfred Rhead (probably
for Minton), part of the Rhead-Cronin Collection, attracted fierce competition finally
falling under the hammer for £17,000.
Staying with the
ceramics auction
of the sale, a fine
Frederick Alfred Rhead
(probably for Minton)
pate-sur-pate porcelain
vase
(FS21/542) exceeded all expectations. This was one of many pieces from the
estate of Richard Harry Rhead Cronin, son of Marie Elizabeth
Adolphine Rhead (sister to
Charlotte Rhead).
This rare vase of cylindrical form was decorated with an angel holding aloft a large
bowl with text below 'And when the angel with his darker draught draws up to thee
- take that and do not shrink' taken from verse 48 of the Rubaiyat of Omar
Khayyam. Following fierce competition in the saleroom and on the telephones,
it finally went under the hammer for £17,000.
This fine pate-sur-pate porcelain plaque (FS21/553), also from the Rhead-Cronin
Collection, realised £15,000.
From the same estate, a
fine pate-sur-pate porcelain rectangular plaque by Frederick
Alfred Rhead
decorated with a scene from John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress (FS21/553)
realised £15,000.
The magnificent oil on canvas painting of a Roman Triump by Andrew Carrick Gow (1848-1920)
was the highlight of the picture auction within the sale, achieving its top estimate
of £15,000.
In the
fine picture auction
of the sale, lots were selling very well indeed. The highlight within the pictures
was an
oil on canvas by Andrew Carrick Gow (1848-1920) entitled 'A Roman Triumph'
(FS21/400). This magnificent painting by Gow depicted a Roman Triumph processing
through the Arch of Titus. You could just make out the Coliseum in the background.
It very pleasingly reached its top estimate at £15,000.
Other highlights within the sale included a
Victorian Kings pattern flatware service by George William Adams in 1861
(FS21/61) which sold for £4,400; A pair of
Regency
mahogany bergere library armchairs
(FS21/907) which realised £4,200; A Soloman Islands
paddle
(FS21/771) which fetched £4,100 and a
walnut wheel barometer by John Hallifax
of Barnsley
(FS21/833) which sold for £13,500.
- Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
- Fine Art Auction
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