January 2016 Fine Art Auction Preview

Rachel Littlewood previews the first major fine art auction of 2016, which has more than a 1,000 lots of silver, jewellery, pictures, ceramics, glass, works of art, clocks and furniture. The sale has some exciting pieces as well as some interesting and unusual items. All in all, it promises to provide two days of excitement with plenty of saleroom battles.

A self-portrait by Robert Lenkiewicz (FS29/342) is being offered in the 19th/20th January 2016 Fine Sale in Exeter.

Day One of the January 2016 Fine Sale on 19th January 2016 commences with the silver auction with some choice items on offer.

A George V silver spirit kettle, stand and burner by the maker D & J Wellby Ltd (FS29/8) dated London 1914 and weighing 53.62ozs is expected to fetch £400-£600, whilst a matched silver King's pattern flatware service (FS29/47) by various makers and from varying dates has a pre-sale estimate of £1,800-£2,000. A sweet 19th Century French silver chocolate pot (FS29/90) with a domed hinged lid surmounted by a pair of love birds carries a pre-sale estimate of £400-£500.

One of the more unusual lots on offer in this section is a rare late George III silver table top novelty toothpick holder (FS29/151) in the form of a pig, mounted on a rectangular four wheel trolley. Dated London 1819 and measuring only 8.5cm, it is expected to fetch £800-£1,000.

A George V Silver Spirit Kettle with a Stand and Burner dating to 1914 (FS29/8) is being offered in our Two Day Fine Art Sale starting on 19th January 2016 at our salerooms in Exeter, Devon.

A Matched Silver King's Pattern Flatware Service (FS29/47) by various makers and with differing dates is included in the silver auction of the sale, which will also offer online bidding for those unable to attend the salerooms in person.

A 19th Century French Silver Chocolate Pot (FS29/90) is amongst the silverware on offer and carries a pre-sale estimate of £400-£500.

A rare late George III Silver Table Top Novelty Toothpick Holder produced in London in 1819 (FS29/151) is simply delightful!

Within the jewellery auction there are some exquisite pieces of jewellery on offer including an 18ct white gold and diamond single stone ring (FS29/270), the centre brilliant cut diamond estimated to weigh 2.2cts, between baguette cut diamond single stone shoulders. The pre-sale estimate is £5,000-£6,000. A stylish French Art Deco diamond mounted rectangular plaque brooch (FS29/242) is also expected to sell well with an estimate of £3,000-£3,500.

An 18ct White Gold and Diamond Single Stone Ring (FS29/270) is expecting bids of between £5,000 and £6,000.

The jewellery auction within the Fine Sale also offers a French Art Deco Diamond Mounted Rectangular Plaque Brooch (FS29/242), which is catalogued with a pre-sale estimate of £3,000-£3,500.

The third section of Day One sees a good selection of paintings, prints and photographs in the picture auction.

A self portrait of Robert O Lenkiewicz (1941-2002) with a red scarf (FS29/342) is estimated at £12,000-£15,000 and an oil on board by John Craxton (1922–2009) titled Roman Pots, archaeological find, the Downs (FS29/354) carries a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000.

An oil on panel by Henry Alken Junior (Samuel Henry Alken) (1910–1894) titled The Derby, 1875 (FS29/363) is expected to create interest with an estimate of between £4,000 and £6,000.

The Derby of 1875 was run on 26th May and was won by Galopin ridden by J Morris. The trainer was J Dawson of Newmarket and the horse was owned by Prince Batthyany. There were 18 runners from an initial entry of 198. The first prize was £4,950, equivalent to £2 million today.

John Craxton RA (1922-2009) - Roman Pots, Archaeological Find, The Downs, Cranborne Chase Beyond (FS29/354) is beinged offered in the picture auction.

Henry Alken Junior [Samuel Henry Alken] (1810-1894) - The Derby, 1875 (FS29/363) is inviting bids of between £4,000 and £6,000.

Edward Arthur Walton RSA (1860-1922) - The Gypsy Camp (FS29/410) is also inviting bids of between £4,000 and £6,000 at our Westcountry Saleroom Complex in Exeter in January 2016.

Orford Castle, Suffolk (FS29/411) by Henry Bright (1814-1873) is also being offered in the sale.

The Next Dance (FS29/422) by George Goodwin Kilburne (1839-1924) is another highlight of the picture auction.

Other highlights in this section include an oil on canvas by Edward Arthur Walton RSA (1860–1922) of The Gypsy Camp (FS29/410), a group of figures amongst woodland, which is estimated at £4,000-£6,000; an oil on canvas by Henry Bright (1814–1873) of Orford Castle, Sufflolk (FS29/411) with an estimate of £4,000-£6,000 and a watercolour by George Goodwin Kilburne (1839–1924) titled The Next Dance (FS29/422) estimated at £3,000-£5,000.

There is also a good selection of photographs on offer by Herbert George Ponting (1870-1935), Noel Chanan (b 1939) and Lewis Wickes Hine (1874-1940) with varying estimates. Examples include Ponting's Under the Purple Wisterias, Japan (FS29/452), Chanan's Street Scene, Varanasi (FS29/457) and Hine's George, A Worker in a Cotton Mill (FS29/462).

Herbert George Ponting (1870-1935) - Under the Purple Wisterias Japan Carbon Print (FS29/452) is amongst the early photography on offer.

Street Scene, Varanasi 1997 (a Selenium-toned silver print, printed in 1999) by Noel Chanan (b 1939) (FS29/457) is one of several prints by the photographer in the sale.

This gelatin-silver print by Lewis Wickes Hine (1874-1940, Winsconsin, USA) entitled 'George, A Worker in A Cotton Mill Vintage' (FS29/462) is is just one example of his work in the auction.

Day Two of the sale on 20th January 2016 commences with the ceramics and glass auction.

A Lalique vase Laurier of cylinder form numbered 947 and measuring 18cm high (FS29/487) has an estimate of £300-£400, whilst a Venini Occhi vase by Tobia Scarpa (FS29/489) from circa 1950 carries a pre-sale estimate of £800-£1,000.

A pair of Chinese blue and white sleeve vases (FS29/497) are also expected to create interest with an estimate of £500-£700, whilst a matched pair of Chinese blue and white square section bottles with ribbed cylindrical necks (FS29/502) depicting scenes from The Romance of the Western Chamber carry a pre-sale estimate of £2,000-£4,000.

A Chinese porcelain famille rose cockerel bowl (FS29/505) that bears paper labels for the Martin Hurst Collection No 535 and Loan Exhibition, Dorchester Hotel, 28th May to 18th June 1931, No 384 is inviting bids of £1,000-£2,000 and a Chinese famille verte biscuit Buddhist lion (FS29/506) carries an estimate of £1,500-£2,000.

A Lalique Vase 'Laurier' (FS29/487) is inviting bids of £300-£400.

A Venini 'Occhi' Vase by Tobia Scarpa (FS29/489) is also being offered in the ceramics auction.

A pair of Chinese Blue and White Sleeve Vases (FS29/497) that will be auctioned at our salerooms in Exeter during January 2016.

A highlight of the ceramics auction will be the matched pair of Chinese Blue and White Square-section Bottles (FS29/502) that carry a pre-sale estimate of £2,000-£4,000.

Another highlight within the ceramics auction will be Chinese Porcelain Famille Rose Cockerel Bowl (FS29/505) that will be sold after 10:00am on the second day of Fine Sale, 20th January 2016.

This 23cm high Chinese Famille Verte Biscuit Buddhist Lion (FS29/506) is also being sold in the auction.

A Chinese famille rose miniature tripod censer (FS29/529) is also expected to create interest with an estimate of £800-£1,200.

There are some interesting Palissy Ware dishes on offer – the first by Francois Maurice (FS29/571) modelled with a lobster, snake, frog, two fish and scattered sea shells, which carries an estimate of £600-£900. Another, probably by the Landais family (FS29/572), is modelled with an eel, frog and shells amongst chicory and other foliage and is estimated at £300-£500, whilst the last of the examples of French Palissy Ware (FS29/573) is modelled with a lizard, small terrapin and frog and is estimated at £300-£400.

A Wedgwood 'Willow Fairyland' lustre vase and cover (FS29/577) carries a pre-sale estimate of £700-£900, whilst a fine early Worcester polychrome coffee cup (FS29/586) of octagonal form with scroll handle, painted with an elegant Chinese lady, two flower vases, butterflies and flowering plants is inviting bids of £1,000-£2,000. A rare large Chelsea 'Hans Sloane' dish (FS29/632) carries a pre-sale estimate of £800-£1,200.

The ceramics auction includes a Chinese Famille Rose Miniature Tripod Censer (FS29/529).

An example of the PalissyWare on offer in the ceramics auction: Francois Maurice, A Paris School Palissy Ware Dish (FS29/571).

Another PalissyWare example appearing in the auction: A Tours School Palissy Ware Dish, probably by the Landais Family (FS29/572).

An oval French Palissy Ware Dish (FS29/573) is attracting bids of £300-£400.

A Wedgwood 'Willow Fairyland' lustre vase and cover designed by Daisy Makieg-Jones (FS29/577) carries a pre-sale estimate of £700-£900.

A fine early Worcester Polychrome Coffee Cup (FS29/586) is expected to realise between £1,000 and £2,000.

A rare large Chelsea 'Hans Sloane' dish with lobed rim (FS29/632) is anticipated a winning bid of £800,£1,200.

The works of art auction offers some unusual lots as always. A 19th Century continental double-barrel side-by-side flintlock sporting gun (FS29/683) is estimated at £1,300-£1,500, whilst an unusual late 18th Century Chinese export reverse mirror painting (FS29/725) depicting opium smokers seated around a table in an interior is estimated at £2,500-£3,500. A pair of Chinese two colour cinnabar lacquer carved vases (FS29/729) are also expected to be prized at £600-£800.

A 19th Century 3 inch Cox's terrestrial globe on a stand (FS29/776) carries a pre-sale estimate of £600-£800 and a rare 18th Century English enamel rectangular box of Theatrical interest (FS29/795) is offered at £400-£600. A stylish pewter biscuit box to a design by Archibald Knox (FS29/796) is expected to fetch between £250-£300, whilst an Archibald Knox design for Liberty and Co Tudric pewter and green glass bowl (FS29/801) no 0924 carrries a pre-sale estimate of £400-£600.

The works of art auction includes many exciting lots, including a 19th Century Continental Double Barrel Side by Side Flintlock Sporting Gun (FS29/683).

The Works of Art auction also includes an unusual late 18th Century Chinese Export Reverse Mirror Painting (FS29/725), which is inviting bids of between £2,500 and £3,500.

The sale includes a pair of Chinese two-colour cinnabar lacquer carved vases of lobed baluster form with waisted neck and flared rim (FS29/729).

A 19th Century 3 Inch Cox's Terrestrial Globe on Stand (FS29/776).

A rare 18th Century English Enamel Rectangular Box of Theatrical Interest (FS29/795) is amongst the Works of Art.

A Tudric Pewter Biscuit Box to a design by Archibald Knox (FS29/796) is also on offer in the sale, which will also be supported by live Internet bidding.

The sale also includes another Archibald Knox design: A Tudric Pewter and Green Glass Bowl (FS29/801).

The final section of the sale includes furniture and carpets and there is plenty on offer with some two hundred lots for sale.

A Turkish carpet (FS29/881) of large size having a brick red field with design repeating square medallions with stellar centres and measuring 471cm x 402cm has an estimate of £800-£1,200, whilst an Isfahan rug (FS29/891) is expected to fetch £1,000-£1,500.

Within the oak section of the furniture auction is an 18th Century oak dresser (FS29/900), measuring 150cm with an estimate of £800-£1,200 and a 17th Century carved oak court cupboard (FS29/898) with an estimate of £2,000-£3,000. A harlequin set of four early 19th Century elm, ash and fruitwood stick back Windsor elbow chairs (FS29/916) carries a pre-sale estimate of £500-£700.

An early 18th Century walnut oyster veneer crossbanded and inlaid chest on a later stand (FS29/929) should also have several potential buyers with an estimate of £3,000-£4,000.

The furniture auction offers a range of rugs and carpets, including this Turkish carpet (FS29/881).

Amongst the Oak furniture is this 18th Century Oak Dresser (FS29/900).

The aak furniture also includes this 17th Century Carved Oak Court Cupboard (FS29/898).

A harlequin set of four early 19th Century elm, ash and fruitwood stick back Windsor elbow chairs (FS29/916) is amongst the furniture.

An early 18th Century walnut oyster veneer crossbanded and inlaid chest on later stand (FS29/929).

There are various lots within the furniture auction from Rockbeare Manor, Near Exeter, Devon, including a Regency mahogany and inlaid circular drum top library table (FS29/983) with an estimate of £2,000-£3,000 and a late 18th Century Italian carved walnut pier table (FS29/1043) that is expected to fetch between £1,000-£1,500. A George III mahogany breakfront secretaire library bookcase (FS29/1091) invites bids of £4,000-£6,000.

From other sources, there is an Edwardian oak and decorated bookcase by Shapland and Petter (FS29/1085), which is similar to a bookcase illustrated in Darly Bennett's Shapland and Petter Ltd of Barnstaple – Arts and Crafts Furniture (published in 2005) on page 88. This example carries a pre-sale estimate of £1,500-£2,000.

A 17th Century lead water cistern (FS29/1089) of D shaped outline with a date of 1653 and initials W over T S (For Thomas and Sarah Wren) is estimated at £2,000-£3,000.

A Regency Mahogany and Inlaid Circular Drum Top Library Table (FS29/983) from the Rockbeare Manor Collection.

This late 18th Century Italian Carved Walnut Pier Table (FS29/1043) is also from the Rockbeare Manor Collection.

The Georgian furniture also includes a George III Mahogany Breakfront Secretaire Library Bookcase (FS29/1091), which is expected to realise between £4,000 and £6,000.