Sale Report

TIMES CHANGE

When I first joined the Company here in Wotton-Under-Edge , then known as Sandoe Luce Panes, my old boss implored me not to have sales in either August or December.  Both, he said, from experience would be disastrous.  In December everyone is bound up with Christmas and in August, well it is holiday time and who would come to a sale?  How times change.  These two sales are now amongst the most successful of the auction calendar here at Wotton.

The sale was strengthened by the inclusion of the residue of the contents of Crowe Hall, a substantial Regency property with commanding views over the city of Bath.  These effects gleaned from storerooms, the butler’s pantry, kitchen, bedrooms, cellars, as well as the residue of the safe etc, boosted the sale by over £40,000, while other vendors benefited from the increased attention to the auction.

The highest price of the sale was taken for a pair of unusual Regency chairs with long seats and low backs in the manner of Gillows, which had been given to a local charity who turned to us to market them on their behalf.  They were difficult to assess and the pre-sale estimates varied greatly, however the hammer finally came down at £2,800.

A Georgian mahogany secretaire bookcase in the Gothic style, but badly faded, sold at £1,800, while a Georgian mahogany library bookcase took £1,600.  A Georgian mahogany wardrobe with finely grained panels sold at £1,500 despite damage.  The best of the Regency sofa tables made £1,300, while a 1920s French style display cabinet sold at £1,450.

Best of the pictures included a late 19^th century oil on cedar panel, being a view of a Japanese garden, unattributed but of fine quality, which realised £2,000.  This was followed by £1,600 for a mid-20^th century abstract view, again unsigned – The Minotaur and The Labyrinth, and £1,650 for an 18^th century oil on panel – an allegorical scene with Pan unveiling Venus. 

Other prices included £1,150 for six full and three half sovereigns, a Nicole Freres cylinder musical box at £980, and £2,200 for a patinated bronze figure of a female musician by J Clesinger.

The firm’s next sale will be the contents of an ancient farmhouse near Witney on Saturday 18^th September at around 12.30pm following the sale of the agricultural equipment by Messrs Voyce Pullin earlier in the day.  The 280 or so lots will be on view on Friday 17^th September from 10am-4pm and the morning of sale from 10am until the sale commences at around 12.30pm. 

This follows the end of a tenancy lasting some 75 years and much of the contents have been there for that duration, and briefly include Georgian oak furniture, an interesting collection of 18^th and 19^th century portraits, silver, silver plate, ceramics, hunting prints, objet d’art, etc.  The full details of the sale will be on the company website from around the 10^th September.

In the meanwhile the firm’s next sale here at Wotton-Under-Edge will be held on 21^st/22^nd September and already contains a wide selection of effects including the residue of Quenington Mill near Fairford, a substantial property in Tetbury and other estates. With other additional sales planned for the Autumn, including a specialist ceramic and glass sale, the next few months are likely to be very busy.  Full details of the additional sales will be posted on the company website in due course. 

Lot 1378 - £2,800

Lot 86 - £780

Lot 1510 - £1,800

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