Sale FS52: Three Day Fine Art Sale

From Tuesday, 18th January 2022
Until Thursday, 20th January 2022

Three Day Fine Art Sale

Summary

Three Day Fine Art Sale with European and Oriental Ceramics, Glass, Pictures, Works of Art, Clocks, Watches, Jewellery and Furniture

This auction has 1670 fine art lots.

Catalogue, Notices and Results

Sale Catalogue (Page-by-Page)

Sale Notes

Antiques and art can often be considered highbrow and serious so it is always a joy to come across something playful. Such is the case with the Victorian silver and tortoiseshell mounted vesta in the form of a tortoise (FS52/206). Whilst the need for a container for self-combusting matches has largely subsided, it would make a wonderful cabinet piece that brings a smile to the face.

The paintings section has an equally quirky lot in the form of an en grisaille Louis Wain watercolour entitled the Night Before Christmas (FS52/1079). Whilst his anthropomorphic kittens are now instantly recognisable, it is easy to forget it was highly unusual for a Victorian, like Mr Wain, to keep a non-working cat as a pet.

Remaining with the animal kingdom, there is a much more realistically modelled Japanese eagle, although cast from bronze by Akasofu Gyoko (FS52/1294). It is taut with attentive menace and seems a second away from springing into life.

Within the jewellery section is a large offering of watches including plenty of Omega wristwatches, perhaps the most noteworthy is the plainest looking. Involved with a different kind of flying than our feathery friend is an Omega Weems pilot's watch (FS52/363), dating from the 1940s and estimated at £2,000-£3,000. One wonders what stories it could tell.

The ceramics section has the healthiest Oriental section for some time and includes a single owner collection of early 18th century famille verte porcelain. Whilst vases, dishes and jugs are more common, figures are less so. The collection has two, the choicest being a seated smiling boy in an aubergine jacket (FS52/824). Not only does he look happy, but his chubby appearance speaks of his nourishment and health and in Chinese culture boys were considered lucky as they (and not girls) could sit the civil service exams and, if successful, had a good job for life.

Whilst far from the most valuable piece of furniture, one has to admire the restrained elegance and practicality of the George IV mahogany dressing chest (FS52/1628), which contains more than an ample number of drawers and a hinged top that reveals everything that a gentleman might need for his ablutions, hidden within the interior.