#Fine #Art #Sale #Lawrences #Antique #Collecting
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Lawrences in Crewkerne are offering over 1300 lots in their first Fine Art sale of the new year (January 16-19th). Across four days of auctions, variety and quality are available in abundance. The auctioneers, eager to welcome collectors and enthusiasts at every level, have ensured that estimates range from the `affordable` to `awesome`.
The sale commences with over 300 lots of silver and vertu. A fine quality George III cake basket by William Plummer, 1765, shows sumptuous craftsmanship and elegance. It carries an estimate of £3000-4000 (lot 176) whilst £2000-3000 is asked for a similarly refined late 18th-Century gold French snuff box. The maker was probably Joseph Andre Bologniel-Presidant, c.1780 (lot 268). A portrait miniature of a gentleman by William Bate, 1805, encapsulates Georgian refinement and taste at an estimate of £250-250 (lot 303)
On the following day, over 180 lots of pictures and prints are led by a fine portrait of George Purling attributed to George Romney. Having passed by descent in the sitter’s family, the refined image of the young man is shown wearing a blue-green coat and holding a tricorn hat and cane. The subject can be dated to the late 1770s and carries an estimate of £7000-10000 (lot 350).
A rather different portrait by Michael Ayrton dates from the late 1940s and shows the artist in profile. Unusually, it is executed in oil on aluminium, a substrate selected to impart the smooth finish similar to the Renaissance frescoes so much admired by Ayrton. This is guided at £2000-3000 (lot 472).
A more informal portrait still is by Mary Fedden and depicts her husband, the artist Julian Trevelyan, beneath a bower of grapes in a conservatory. This 1986 watercolour is estimated at £3000-4000 (lot 440).
A selection of Collectors’ Items included a rare Jumeau doll, possibly the former childhood property of the Arts & Crafts author Warwick Draper. As well prepared for a journey as any young lady should be, the 46cm doll comes with her brass bed, mattress and linen as well as additional clothing. She is expected to make £800-1200 (lot 540).
A Leica 111F military red dial rangefinder camera, 1951, will find eager bidders amongst collectors of historic cameras and is guided at £500-700 (lot 556).
Within a range of items celebrating the inventiveness of 20th Century design, collectors can bid for a Charles & Ray Eames lounge chair with ottoman. Now recognised a design classic, the 1970s lot is estimated at £3200-3500 (lot 600). A large bronze sculpture of a horse by contemporary Dorset sculptor George Bingham is attracting bids at £1000-1500 (lot 632);
A different view of a different animal is found in a Venturi Arte white metal edition of Salvador Dali’s `Venus a la Giraffe`, 56cm high, estimate £300-500 (lot 621).
Within the ceramics section, a Chinese famille rose vase, 19th Century Qing dynasty, gracefully decorated with Buddhist emblems, shou characters and floral scrolls is expected to make £1500-2000 (lot 774).
On Thursday January 18th, over 300 lots of jewellery and watches are led by a coral necklace with earrings and a ring, each item finished with brilliant-cut diamonds, guided at £8000-12000 (lot 1120)
An Art Deco diamond bracelet, liberally set with about 13 carats of diamonds, at £15500-20000 (lot 1127)
A Gentleman’s 18ct Gold Daytona Cosmagraph wristwatch by Rolex, offered with a recent Rolex service, and estimated at £30000-35000 (lot 905).
Dozens of other wristwatches, pocket watches, fine jewels and alluring gem set rings offer much choice to any eager bidder with estimates from about £100 up to five figures.
The sale is completed on Friday 19th January with the selection of clocks, furniture, works of art and carpets. Highlights include a late 17th Century walnut marquetry longcase clock by Thomas Bridge of London, guided at £4000-6000 (lot 1129).
An ebonised bracket clock by Paul Rimbault, 1781, carries an estimate of £3000-4000 (lot 1141). An early 18th Century walnut estate cupboard, enclosing a fitted interior with secret drawers, is expected to make £3000-3500 (lot 1251); and a Chinese carved hardwood hall seat offers elegance of design (with profuse relief carving featuring a squirrel and grape vines) at £1000-1500 (lot 1267).
A selection of almost two dozen carpets includes a Mashad from northeast Persia guided at £700-1000 (lot 1310); and a small group of garden items features a modern carved marble figure of a disrobing female nude, 167 cm high, with an estimate of £800-1200 (lot 1338).
All lots can be views online with multiple images and condition reports at lawrences.co.uk and at auctionet.com but viewing in person begins on Saturday January 13th . Enquiries about any lot are welcomed at [email protected]
