Fine Art Auction Review
Rachel Littlewood reviews the first fine art sale of the year, which was held over
three days in Exeter. The jewellery auction provided the two top selling lots.
The first day saw the Flowerday Collection of ceramics sell very well with
all sections over the following days seeing good results, especially the furniture
auction, which was very buoyant.
This diamond mounted jabot pin (FS37/485) realised £17,500 in the Fine Art Sale,
which was held over three days in Exeter and online over the Internet.
The top two selling lots of the latest Fine Art Sale
at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood on 22nd, 23rd and 24th January 2018 were both
within the jewellery auction
of the sale.
Firstly, a diamond mounted jabot pin, with two
pear-shape clusters (FS37/485), each pave set with a central pear shaped diamond
approximately 1.0cts within a surround of round old brilliant cut diamonds, the
diamonds estimated to weigh a total of 7.0cts, sold for £17,500 and a gentleman's
stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT Master Superlative Chronometer
(FS37/397) sold for £12,000.
Other highlights in the jewellery included a 20th Century diamond solitaire ring
(FS37/531), the diamond estimated to weigh 2.0cts, sold for £5,500 and another
diamond solitaire ring (FS37/509) sold
for £5,000.
A Rolex Gentleman's Stainless Steel Oyster Perpetual GMT Master Superlative Chronometer
Wristwatch (FS37/397) sold for £12,000.
A 20th Century diamond solitaire ring (FS37/531) was amongst the other jewellery
highlights.
This diamond solitaire ring (FS37/509) sold for £5,000.
The Flowerday Collection
of 18th Century porcelain sold extremely well – some of the high points included
a
First Period Worcester coffee can
(FS37/125) decorated in the workshops of James Giles, with a bullfinch perched on
a leafy branch, a colourful butterfly to the reverse, dating from circa 1770–72
that sold for £6,100 and a Lowestoft Royal Commemorative mug
(FS37/79) with a crown and banner inscribed 'Long Live the King' below a dot loop
and arrow border sold for £5,300.
A Chelsea bonbonniere (FS37/28) in the
form of a lady's head, wearing a black mask with inset rose diamond eyes and pink
trimmed bonnet with feather plume also exceeded expectations selling for £4,600,
whilst a matched pair of Chelsea bonbonnieres (FS37/23)
modelled as a lady and a gentleman's head sold for £4,200.
A First Period Worcester Coffee Can decorated in the workshops of James Giles (FS37/125),
from the Flowerday Collection, fetched £6,100.
A Lowestoft 'Royal Commemorative' Mug (FS37/79) from the Flowerday Collection was
sold for £5,300.
Another item from the Flowerday Collection: A Chelsea Bonbonniere (FS37/28) attracted
a winning bid of £4,600.
A matched pair of Chelsea Bonbonnieres (FS37/23) from the same collection sold for
£4,200.
In the paintings auction
of the sale, an oil on canvas titled The Love Letter
by Haynes King (1831-1904) (FS37/609) sold for £4,800. Another painting,
a watercolour, by Andrew MacCallum (1821-1902) titled The Fire at Clerkenwell
(FS37/643) exceeded expectations selling for £5,800. On the reverse of the painting
there was an inscription which read 'Dedicated to the Gallant Captain Shaw and The
Brave Fire Brigade'. It is understood that the mural of the fire that was based
on the present lot was put up in Clerkenwell but was later destroyed during the
blitz.
A fun watercolour, pen and ink by Louis William Wain (1860-1939) titled Mrs Tabby's
Academy (FS37/561) attracted a great deal of interest and
realised £3,800.
Haynes King (1831-1904): Love Letter (FS37/609) sold for £4,800.
Andrew MacCallum (1821-1902): Fire at Clerkenwell (FS37/643) exceeded all expectations
selling for £5,800.
Louis William Wain (1860-1939): Mrs Tabby's Academy (FS37/561) attracted a great
deal of interest, finally selling for £3,800.
Furniture
prices proved to be very buoyant for this first fine art sale of 2018,
with a 19th Century walnut and parcel gilt architectural mirror in the George II
taste
(FS37/1209) being extremely sought after. With acanthus decorated broken pediment
centred by a palmette spray and having a similar palmette and acanthus scroll frieze,
this lot created a frenzy of excitement on the Internet and with telephone bidders
and, following fierce bidding, was eventually sold for £5,400.
Also in great demand was a 17th Century and later oak tester bed
(FS37/1112), which sold for £4,000 and a lacquered longcase clock by Thomas Loftus of Wisbech
(FS37/1074) realised £7,000.
A 19th Century walnut and parcel gilt architectural mirror in the George II taste
(FS37/1209) was fiercely fought for
eventually selling for £5,400.
A 17th Century and later oak tester bed (FS37/1112) sold for £4,000.
The lacquered longcase clock by Thomas Loftus of Wisbech (FS37/1074) was sold for
£7,000.
In the works of art auction
of the sale prices were strong, with a bronze study of a tiger with two cubs by Akasofu Gyoko (Meiji period)
(FS37/894) selling for £4,100 and a fine Japanese ivory and boxwood okimono of Nio slaying Oni demons
(FS37/900) carrying a carved hardwood temple bell over his shoulder whilst demons
tumble from the bell realised £4,000.
A bronze study of a tiger with two cubs by Akasofu Gyoko (Meiji period) (FS37/900)
fetched £4,100.
A Japanese ivory and boxwood okimono of Nio slaying Oni demons (FS37/900) realised
£4,000.
Entries are currently being invited for the next Fine Art Sale to be held on 10th/11th April 2018.
- Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
- Haynes King (1831-1904)
- Andrew MacCallum (1821-1902)
- Louis William Wain (1860-1939)
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