Western Morning News (Saturday)
Royal connection
BEARNES Hampton & Littlewood’s Winter Fine Sale is a twoday offering of over 1200 lots starting on Tuesday with the silver.
Included is a late Victorian cow creamer of traditional form, whilst not a particular rarity it does raise the question why these quirky pieces are nearly always adorned with an accompanying fly either on the lid or the udder.
Another common question is what do you buy the person who has everything? The answer in this case is a silver cocktail swizzler in the form of a monkey collecting coconuts from a palm tree. Another lot featuring monkeys climbing trees is a Kangxi (1662-1722) blue and white charger depicting them eating peaches which is estimated at £500-700*.
Day one is completed with an offering of paintings amongst them are two differing Continental oil on canvas portraits of ladies. The first is by a Hungarian female artist, named Maria Szantho, who specialises in what might be considered brazen and exotic nudes.
The other is a Russian work by an unknown hand who depicts his sitter equally as confident as the former, but with an enigmatic and knowing stare that is somewhat unsettling. Either of these beauties would be happy to own lot 480, a sapphire and diamond ring, the former weighing 7.87 carats comes with the benefit of a laboratory report stating its origin as Sri Lanka. It comes with pre-sale expectations of £50007000*.
Included in the works of art section is a charming 19th century bronze after Henri Marie Jacquemart which depicts a quizzical hound studying a tortoise.
The two-day sale is completed by 250 items of furniture and rugs which includes an early Victorian rosewood and carved giltwood piano forte with Royal provenance (confirmed by the makers John Broadwood & Sons). It bears a paper label which states: ‘This piano in the years 1845 & 1846 was in the possession of the late Prince Consort and was the same on which he played and composed in his private apartments.’
The quarterly Fine Sale will take place on Tuesday, October 5th and Wednesday, October 6, commencing at 10am. For further details call 01392 413100 or visit www.bhandl.co.uk
*NOTE: Lots subject to Buyer’s Premium of 27.6% incl. VAT @ 20%