March Fine & Classic Interiors

Sales Report

Our first ever Fine & Classic Interiors Auction was a great success, with both vendors and buyers enjoying the curation of a specialist, fine antique sale. With a strong attendance to our viewing events and in the room on saleday, fantastic prices were achieved accross a range of departments. 

Firstly, our front cover lot was a beautiful and imposing oil painting by Arthur Wasse. Wasse was a Manchester born artist who moved to Germany in 1875 where he studied at the Munich School and refined his romantic style under the great masters Carl Theodor von Piloty (1826-1886) and Wilhelm von Diez (1839-1907). A wonderful scene at an impressive size, this imposing painting entitled 'Sunday Morning' really captured the attention of our bidders and reached a hammer price of £4,700.

Arthur Wasse (fl.1879-1930), "Sunday Morning", signed and dated 1888, titled on artist's label verso, oil on canvas, 180.5 x 114cm, 71 x 45in.

Arthur Wasse (fl.1879-1930), "Sunday Morning", signed and dated 1888, titled on artist's label verso, oil on canvas, 180.5 x 114cm, 71 x 45in. Sold for £4,700.

Further oil paintings with a range of subject matters and compositions also soared at auction. Notable hammer prices included the sale of a wonderful late Victorian rural scene by Henry Hetherington Emmerson entitled 'The Cow Doctor,' and a beautiful landscape of Falcon Craig, signed by Alfred de Breanski Snr.

Henry Hetherington Emmerson (1831-1895), "The Cow Doctor", signed and dated 1871, titled on artist's label verso, oil on canvas, 150.5 x 120cm, 59.25 x 47.25in.

Henry Hetherington Emmerson (1831-1895), "The Cow Doctor", signed and dated 1871, titled on artist's label verso, oil on canvas, 150.5 x 120cm, 59.25 x 47.25in. Sold for £3,600.

Alfred de Breanski Snr. (1852-1928), "Falcon Craig", signed, titled on verso, oil on canvas, 60 x 90cm, 23.5 x 35.5in.

Alfred de Breanski Snr. (1852-1928), "Falcon Craig", signed, titled on verso, oil on canvas, 60 x 90cm, 23.5 x 35.5in. Sold for £2,300.

Silver lots also fared well very under the hammer. An impressive 97 piece canteen featuring King's pattern cutlery enticed our bidders and reached £1,400, whilst a wonderful pair of Edwardian silver tureens with foliate detailed handles fetched £1,100.

An Elizabeth II 97 piece canteen of silver and silver handled 'King's pattern' cutlery, comprising eight silver dinner forks, eight silver fish forks, four silver table spoons, eight silver dessert forks, eight silver fish knives, eight silver dessert spoons, eight silver boiled egg spoons, eight silver soup spoons, eight silver teaspoons, eight silver handled table knives, eight silver handled dessert knives, two silver handled meat skewers and one silver handled carving knife, together with two additional silver handled dessert knives and eight silver handled butter knives in a mahogany veneered canteen, hallmarks for Pinder Brothers, Sheffield, 1977, gross weight of solid silver items 126.13ozt.

An Elizabeth II 97 piece canteen of silver and silver handled 'King's pattern' cutlery, hallmarks for Pinder Brothers, Sheffield, 1977. Sold for £1,400.

A pair of Edward VII silver tureens, of rectangular form with gadrooned rim and foliate handle, hallmarks for Hawksworth, Eyre & Co Ltd., London, 1905, dimensions 30.5 x 22.8 x 12.5cm, gross weight 113.4ozt.

A pair of Edward VII silver tureens, of rectangular form with gadrooned rim and foliate handle, hallmarks for Hawksworth, Eyre & Co Ltd., London, 1905, dimensions 30.5 x 22.8 x 12.5cm. Sold for £1,100.

For the ceramics section, a single owner collection of Della Robbia ceramics and Royal Crown Derby lots sold well, but Royal Worcester proved to be the real maker of the moment. An early 20th century Royal Worcester vase depicting as rural scene and signed by H.Davies saw a bidding battle with multiple phonelines and eventually settled at £2,800.

Royal Worcester vase signed H. Davis, painted with sheep within a landscape, date code for 1912, 23cm high

An early 20th century Royal Worcester vase signed H. Davis, painted with sheep within a landscape, date code for 1912, 23cm high. Sold for £2,800.

Another rare Royal Worcester piece that attracted the attention of collectors was a breathtaking 'Reticulated' teapot by George Owen. George Owen began his careet in 1859 and soon invented his own piercing technique with his own individual tools, of which he kept a closely guarded secret. These wonderful designs are a relative rarity, with only a handful coming to auction each year. Our sale included both the teapot which sold for £2,700 as well as a cup and saucer set that achieved £1,000. 

Royal Worcester reticulated teapot and cover by George Owen, the hexagonal cut body applied with turquoise, white and gilt jewels, late 19th century,12.5cm high

A late 19th century Royal Worcester reticulated teapot and cover by George Owen, the hexagonal cut body applied with turquoise, white and gilt jewels, 12.5cm high. Sold for £2,700.

The top selling collectables lot was a fascinating monocular brass microscope by Powell & Leyland, complete with original box and various accessories to include eye pieces. In fantastic condition, this lot exceeded its estimate and achieved a hammer price of £2,400. 

Monocular brass microscope by Powell & Lealand, Euston Road, London, contained in mahogany case, box of accessories including various eye pieces, microscope height 37cm (14").

Monocular brass microscope by Powell & Lealand, Euston Road, London, contained in mahogany case, box of accessories including various eye pieces, microscope height 37cm (14"). Sold for £2,400.

A selection of bronzes, consigned from local vendors throughout Cheshire bought fantastic prices and looked fantastic in our viewing events. An imposing 19th century French bronze sculpture standing at a metre high sold for £2,300, whilst a pair of equestrian bronzes by J. Willisgood sold for £1,100. 

Mid 19th century French bronze, marked Le Bocheron, taken from the classic fable by Le Fontaine, the semi-naked man breaking sticks across his knee height 87cm (34"), standing on green veined marble pedestal, height 104cm (41").

Mid 19th century French bronze, marked Le Bocheron, taken from the classic fable by Le Fontaine, height 87cm (34"), standing on green veined marble pedestal, height 104cm (41"). Sold for £2,300.

 

Pair of bronze figures of huntsmen, each cast in the form of a figure sitting on a horse, one hollering, the other listening, oval bases signed J. Willisgood, 1874, height 28cm (11"), each bronze supported on pink granite plinths.

A pair of bronze figures, each cast in the form of a figure sitting on a horse, one hollering, the other listening, oval bases signed J. Willisgood, 1874, height 28cm (11"), each bronze supported on pink granite plinths. Sold for £1,100.

Of all the sections in our Fine & Classic Interiors Sale, the furniture was the last of the day and also arguably the most exciting! Brilliant prices for brown traditional furniture were achieved and shows the advantages of selling these pieces through specialist sales such as our own. A collection of eight 19h century Windsor chairs by Prior, in varying conditions, excelled their auction estimate and sold to a collector on the phone for £1,800.  

Eight 19th century Windsor chairs by Prior, comprising six single and two open arm carvers, each chair with typical three-splat back with bullseye turnings to centre of each, yew frame, ash saddle seat with scribed edge, crinoline stretchers.

Eight 19th century Windsor chairs by Prior, comprising six single and two open arm carvers, each chair with typical three-splat back with bullseye turnings to centre of each, yew frame, ash saddle seat with scribed edge, crinoline stretchers. Sold for £1,800.

Similarly, a fantastic oak and mahogany veneered housekeeper's cupboard dating from the early 19th century attracted a lot of interest at our viewing events, and sold to one lucky bidder for £1,500. Our buyers were absolutely thrilled, and fully embraced the challenge of transporting this massive piece of furniture back to their home to be cherished for years to come.

Early 19th century oak and mahogany veneered breakfront housekeepers cupboard, ogee cornice above four two panel doors, interior with fixed shelves (right hand cupboard with two short drawers), base with wavy moulding, range of four long and eight short drawers, each with brass handles, all standing on bracket feet, width 211cm (83"), depth 56cm (22"), height 231cm (91").

An early 19th century oak and mahogany veneered breakfront housekeepers cupboard, ogee cornice above four two panel doors, interior with fixed shelves (right hand cupboard with two short drawers), base with wavy moulding, range of four long and eight short drawers, each with brass handles, all standing on bracket feet, width 211cm (83"), depth 56cm (22"), height 231cm (91"). Sold for £1,500. 

Finally, a clock with a real local interest saw off a lot of bidding in the room and finally settled at £1,600. This longcase clock by Nantwich clockmaker Thomas Birchall featured a wonderful brass dial complete with rolling moon accent and of course that wonderful Nantwich provenance!

Longcase clock by Thomas Birchall, Nantwich, 8-day movement, striking on single bell, brass arched dial with rolling moon, secondary minute dial and date aperture, cast metal spandrels, case with canopy, swan neck pediment with blind fretwork, trunk with quartered columns, long walnut cross-banded door, box base with single panel, height 210cm (83").

Longcase clock by Thomas Birchall, Nantwich, 8-day movement, striking on single bell, brass arched dial with rolling moon, secondary minute dial and date aperture, cast metal spandrels, case with canopy, swan neck pediment with blind fretwork, trunk with quartered columns, long walnut cross-banded door, box base with single panel, height 210cm (83"). Sold for £1,600. 

For a full listing of results for all of the lots in this sale, click here. We are currently accepting entries for our next Fine & Classic Interiors Auction, and accepting online valuation requests. Email auctions@peterwilson.co.uk for further information.

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