On Thursday 17th and Friday 18th of November, Roseberys are thrilled to present two days of auctions of Fine & Decorative lots.
Anna Evans, the head of this sale said of the auction: “The final Fine & Decorative sale of 2022 offers a host of exciting lots across two days to tempt all tastes and budgets”. Georgina Agnew, the Associate Specialist in Rosebery’s Jewellery and Silver departments said of the excellent selection of silver coming to auction this November: “The silver section of the Fine & Decorative auction features an impressive private collection of 17th-century silver puritan, slip-top and trefid spoons. Collections of this size and quality rarely come to the market and good pairs of puritans and slip-top spoons are especially sought-after”.
Lot 349: A collection of Italian biographies and memoires, 16th-18th century
Lot 415: Mariano Vasi, Intineraire Instructif de Rome Ancienne et Moderne, 2 Vols
Lot 440: Blake, William, The Book of Los, copy XIV, collotype plates hand-coloured through stencil
In the upcoming sale, there are five stand-alone, themed lots which are sure to garner great interest. Two of these are library collections: one (Lots 347 to 438) belonging to the late Professor John Humphreys Whitfield (1906-1995), a renowned Italianist, author, and lecturer, and the other (Lots 439 to 476) from Naim Attallah CBE, a British Mandate of Palestine, publisher, and magazine proprietor, who passed away last year. A polymath whose career path took several twists and turns, Attallah’s collection of books on a variety of topics aptly reflects the intellectual breadth of their last owner. Whitfield’s collection of books includes rare 16th-19th century books on European literature and history, with a particular interest in Italian works.
Lot 179:The Geoffrey and Fay Elliot collection (lots 179-271)
Lots 179 to 271 come to Roseberys from the Geoffrey and Fay Elliot collection and reflect the passions and interests of the famous author and his wife. Geoffrey is best known for his books which explore his and his father’s experiences in the Secret Service. The extensive, eclectic collection of art and antiques that he and Fay amassed over their extensive travels is sure to attract collectors.
Lot 154: A George I silver gilt hot-milk jug on three scroll feet
Lots 152 to 178, and 272 to 331 come from the Schroder family collection of works of art. The family came to England from Hamburg in the late eighteenth century and established themselves as successful merchant bankers. Born into that lineage of businessmen, Baron Sir John Henry (1825 - 1910) began to collect art on a grand scale, displaying his extensive collection at The Dell - an old hunting lodge - on the edge of Windsor Great Park. Many of the works on offer were brought into the collection by John Henry.
Lot 546: An Austrian gold-mounted enamelled scent bottle, c.1770/80
Lots 546 to 585 make up a beautiful collection of objects of vertu, including snuff boxes and etui in gold, lacquer, hardstones, and tortoiseshell.
6 highlight lots have been selected by our expert heads of department, which are sure to draw great interest in the upcoming auction.
251:A Charles II beadwork picture, c.1660-70
Lot 251 (part of the Geoffrey and Fay Ellion Collection) is a Charles II beadwork picture dated to around 1660-70, depicting the meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. The beadwork on this piece belongs to a distinct group of pictures dating from between 1660 and the 1680s, which were chiefly made to commemorate the restoration of Charles II. King Soloman and the Queen of Sheba feature regularly in these pictures, as do Charles with his consort Catherine of Braganza, and Adam and Eve. The piece measures 24 x 36 cm and comes with an estimate of £3000 to £5000 plus fees.
Lot 660: A George III brass mounted mahogany musical bracket clock
Lot 660 is a George III brass-mounted mahogany musical bracket clock featuring an architectural case, moulded top with brass ball finials, and two brass Corinthian columns. The arched dial is painted with Roman numerals and is signed ‘John Wyatt, ALTRINCHAM’ to dial centre (‘J WYATT’ also signed on the backplace), with cherub mask and scrolling foliate spandrels. The triple fuse movement plays a selection of twelve tunes on fourteen bells and the clock features a pendulum and case key but no winders. This piece is an impressive example of Wyatt’s work, combining an ambitious musical repertoire and a beautifully elegant case. The lot has a £3000 to £5000 estimate plus fees and stands at 76 cm high, 49.5 cm wide, and 30 cm deep.
The third stand-out lot of the sale is Lot 482, a Paris Porcelain teacup and saucer with fabulously exciting provenance. The set is thought to have been used by Napoleon Bonaparte at Chateau de Fontainebleau around the time of his abdication in 1814. The set is presented in a fitted leather case with a gilt-tooled decoration [is this decor on the cup or leather case?] reading ‘N’ and ‘Las Tasse de l’Empereur 1814’, and featuring bees and laurel wreaths. The set is accompanied by letters relating to the cup’s provenance, one of which states “This cup and saucer was given to me the 4th August 1907 by Monsieur le Canon Pierre Désiré Hauquelin … Having shown it to me on a few occasions during his illness, he had each time assured me that it was in this cup that Napoleon had taken his breakfast the day of his Abdication at Fontainebleau … it did not leave the Hauquelin family. He wanted that these two objects were guarded by some persons capable of appreciating all the souvenirs that they conjure up.” The cup and saucer, which comes with a £3000 to £5000 estimate (plus fees) is sure to excite bidders come November.
Lot 272: Works of Art from the Schroder Collection (lots 152-178 (Silver) and 272-331)
Lot 272 - which comes from the Schroder Collection - is a Locre Paris two-handled baluster ‘Etruscan’ vase, dating to 1780-90. An ‘Etruscan’ vase of the same form and similar decorations is held in the collection at Sevres. The vase features a blue crossed torches mark, a finely decorated white-ground neck, two moulded gilt paterae terminals, gild foliage handles, and a plinth foot painted to simulate marble. The vase measures 39.9 cm high and comes to auction with a £800 to £1200 (plus fees) estimate.
Lot 650: A Victorian Regina self-changing 27-inch disc musical box
Lot 650 is a Victorian Regina self-changing 27-inch disc musical box in an upright mahogany case. The box has separate motors for disc changing and playing and a magazine of 12 discs. The Regina Company was founded by Gustav Brachhausen in 1894 and quickly reached national acclaim across America - this box features the company’s name and registration number 30228. The box is 161 cm high, 102 cm wide, 60 cm deep, and is accompanied with a mahogany disc case containing twenty discs and measuring 80cm high, 79 cm wide, and 31 cm deep. This lot has an estimate of £2000 to £4000 plus fees.
The final highlight lot of the upcoming Fine & Decorative sale is Lot 677 - a George III mahogany ‘Isle of Man’ tilt top table. Its circular top sits above a birdcage mechanism and is raised on a turned column and three splayed legs, carved in the form of legs with shoes (as seen on the Isle of Man’s flag). This distinctive object has a £600 to £800 estimate (plus fees) and would be a brilliant investment for any collector looking for a conversation piece.
The auction will take place on Thursday 17 & Friday 18 November
Day 1: Fine & Decorative (Lots 222-478)
Day 2: Fine & Decorative (Lots 479-905)
Viewing Times at Roseberys:
Sunday 13 November: 10 am - 2 pm
Monday 14 November: 9.30 am - 5 pm
Tuesday 15 November: 9.30 am - 5 pm
Wednesday 16 November: 9.30 am - 5 pm
Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for condition reports and further information.
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