Remarkable Chris Crabtree Collection and other notable examples of fine glass raise over £600,000 at Bonhams New Bond Street
Bonhams raised an exceptional total of £666,468 at yesterday’s Fine British & European Glass & Paperweights Sale. With 86.35% of lots sold by value, this sale generated widespread interest from collectors and enthusiasts and included an array of British, Venetian and Dutch glass alongside a magnificent collection of paperweights.
The highlight of the sale was the Chris Crabtree collection of English Glass, amassed over four decades and widely-considered to be one of the finest collections of 18th Century glass in private hands, featuring a number of high value lots. All but one of the pieces in this 30-strong collection sold, contributing to the impressive sale total.
From this prominent collection, The Beilby Thompson Goblet, an important Beilby polychrome enamelled and gilt opaque-twist goblet, sold for £38,400 (estimated £20,000-30,000). Painted with the arms of Beilby Thompson, this splendid circa 1765 goblet attracted widespread interest from a number of bidders.
Also from the Crabtree Collection, was The Sedbergh Goblet: a Beilby enamelled opaque-twist goblet, circa 1760-65, reached a phenomenal £18,600, against a pre-sale estimate of £8,000-12,000. Meanwhile, a Beilby enamelled opaque-twist wine glass from the Horsley Service, circa 1765, sold for £18,000 (estimated £12,000 – 18,000).
Elsewhere in the sale, a large and impressive early baluster goblet, circa 1690, with magnificent ‘nipt diamond waies’ ornament and four moulded cherub’s head prunts performed equally well, reaching £36,000 (estimated £10,000-15,000). This goblet is the only one of its kind recorded in literature to bear prunts in the form of cherub’s heads, making it a rare and valuable piece.
Alongside this, a fine 1770 Dutch-engraved VOC (East Indies Company) goblet sold for £26,400 (estimated £8,000-12,000). Featuring an intricately engraved three-masted sailing ship and an elaborate cartouche formed of naval trophies, the high quality of the work is likely to be that of Jacob Sang, a highly-skilled glass engraver.
Holding the flame for fine glass candlesticks, the rare colour-twist 1770 Stout Candlestick sold for £18,000 (estimated £15,000-20,000). Formerly from the collection of the late J. Anthony Stout, this lot is one of only three colour-twist candlesticks recorded in the literature.
Simon Cottle, Director of Bonhams European Ceramics & Glass Department comments: “We are delighted with such a great result, emphasising Bonhams position as the undeniable market leader for antique glass. The enthusiasm from buyers from all corners of the globe for the quality and range of glass in the sale is a true indicator of the current worldwide strength of this highly traditional collectors market.”
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