Chinese ceramics provided some of the highest prices at a recent Fine Art & Silver Auction held in Lichfield last week. The craze for all things oriental continues with demand largely from new wealth in China prompted by a desire to buy back heritage.
Richard Winterton’s Fine Art Sale (29th March) comprised hand-picked and individually vetted Lots ranging from jewellery, silver, glass, ceramics, European and Oriental works of art and fine paintings. Only the finest goods make it into the Fine Arts Sale with an emphasis not only on value, but on quality, individuality and desirability.
Silver and precious metal prices are holding up well and all of the silver on offer sold above the pre-sale estimates. Lot 80, a Courtman solid silver punch set complete with ladle and beakers sold for £2,600.
In the glass section, Lot 102, a small Loetz Art Nouveau iridescent glass vase with ‘Phanomen’ design had been discovered on a valuation day in Lichfield. Despite four phone bidders, a buyer bidding live on the internet secured it for £1,350.
The ceramics section provided some of the highest individual prices. Lot 125, a rare Royal Doulton Sung Flambé Peahen by Charles Noke sold to a room bidder for £3,200 and a collection of nineteenth century Vienna painted wares totalled over £15k. All of the oriental ceramics exceeded expectations with much pre-sale interest coming from China itself. The most sought after piece was Lot 166, a Chinese Ch’ien Lung period (1736-1795) baluster vase with a broad opening. Decorated in coloured enamels with domestic scenes of figures in the famille rose palette, it had been discovered by the Auctioneers amongst a consignment form a Sutton Coldfield estate. It came with provenance linking it to one of the greatest oriental dealerships, Bluett & Sons of London. A London based phone bidder fought off four other phone and room bidders to secure it for £4,400.
Fine pictures were also selling well with private buyers keen to invest. Lot 169, an oil painting of an interior by Scottish artist Patrick W. Adam RSA (1854-1928) sold in the room for £1,600 and a study of a Landseer Newfoundland by Edmund Bristow (1787-1876) sold for £1,500. Lot 205, a large typical pastoral watercolour by Thomas Sidney Cooper ARA (1803-1902) sold for £2,000 and Lot 212, a view of Swilla Glen, Ingleton by William Mellor (1851-1931) for £2,500. Lot 213, a large oil of an idyllic rural scene with girls feeding ducks by Henry John Yeend King (1855-1924) had been discovered in a Sutton Coldfield property. It sold for £3,600.
The next Fine Art & Silver Sale is 5th July and entries are now being invited. Contact Adrian Rathbone (Associate) on 01543 251081 or email [email protected]
RICHARD WINTERTON AUCTIONEERS LTD – LICHFIELD
01543 251081
[email protected]
www.richardwinterton.co.uk
