An unusual piece of Royal memorabilia to go up for auction ON SALE NOW
AJAPANESE Emperor’s grateful gift to an Imperial Family bodyguard, paintings from an art collection that has outgrown the space available to display it, country house furniture including a 342-year-old court cupboard and some extraordinary secret agent weaponry are among the items going under the hammer in a spectacular three-day November auction. The Imperial Japanese piece is a vase that was presented by Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989) to the vendor, a lady who served as a member of the protection team guarding his wife, the Empress Kojun.
The vase is Fukagawa Porcelain, a renowned Japanese manufacturer that was established in the late 19th century. In 1903 the factory won a gold medal at the World Exposition in Paris and it was shortly after that it became the official product of the Imperial Household Agency. The vase was personally handed to our vendor by the Emperor, so an unusual piece of Royal memorabilia.
Meanwhile, speaking of ‘Royal’, the paintings in the auction include a number of pictures that we have been asked to offer to the market on behalf of a collection, developed over many decades, which is now being trimmed and refocused. The headline lots here include a large painting of a studio interior by the Royal Academician Fred Cuming (1930-2022).
Look carefully in the mirror of the dressing table in the picture and – lovely touch – we find the artist has provided a self-portrait. Cuming’s paintings are to be found in gallery, museum and private collections around the world. The sale has another big jewellery section. The star lots this time include a beautiful 24-carat gold necklace featuring flowers and dragonfly by Prima Gold, the Thailand-based maker of luxury jewellery. Gold of this quality is 99.9 per cent pure. The pre-sale estimate for the necklace is £1,500-£2,000. Meanwhile, the watches include a fine Bueche Girode, a 9-carat gold ladies dress watch, circled by sapphire and diamonds and with a lapis lazuli face.
It comes with an amazing backstory – the vendor was about to throw it out, unaware that it was gold and unaware that the gemstones were real. Given that the watch is expected to make at least £600 she’s probably pleased she had us check it out.
The furniture includes the oldest piece I think we’ve ever auctioned, a Jacobean period court cupboard that I can say with complete confidence dates from 1681 (The date’s carved on it!).
A real country house piece, as are several other entries including a large and imposing hallstand with decorative coat hooks, umbrella stand and the rest. Finally, a mention of some of some standout curiosities in a sale that’s absolutely packed with curiosities: a collection of secret agent gadgetry.
We can do you a ‘fountain pen’ that contains not a nib but a knife blade, a realistic looking bicycle pump that, with the flick of a wrist, becomes a sword and other stuff that we haven’t yet worked out!
The catalogue is available on the firm’s website ( www.pottersauction. co.uk). The viewing session will be on Wednesday, November 1 (10am-6pm). The online auction will start at 10.30am on Thursday, November 2.