A fine selection of early English floral porcelains will almost certainly get bidders into the mood for some Spring Time purchasing at Tennants two day Catalogue sale 26-27 March. Despite economic hard times there is nevertheless a buoyant and feel-good fuelled market for beautiful or unusual things, whether it be a crisp piece of silver, a finely honed sculpture, or a highly engineered wristwatch. With five days of viewing (21-25 March inclusive), and 1500 stunning lots to cover, please reach for your diaries now! Many items are being offered for sale for the first time in their history.
Lot 141
The rococo style is manifest in a rare and delightfully light pair of Chelsea porcelain chamber candlesticks circa 1755-58, which are painted with lovers of candlelight – moths! (lot 141, estimate £1000-1500). A pair of Chinese blue and white export porcelain altar candlesticks (lot 219, estimate £6000-8000) made during the last years of the collapsing Ming Dynasty (1328-1644) are remarkably rare survivors and a reminder of the fusion of East/West ceramic design and painting style.
Lot 219
Lot 265
Unrecognized for its worth, and played with as a toy by the children of the vendors, a rarely seen World War Two Luftwaffe pilot’s giant sized wristwatch by Lange & Sohne circa 1941 (lot 265, estimate £3000-5000) may see strong bidding – bolstered by the wartime tradition that it was brought back as a prize following the D Day landings 1944.
Lot 372
Local silver sells well locally – a statement that will undoubtedly prove the case when bidding opens on a small but beautifully formed pair of York silver crested beakers made by Hampston & Prince in 1787 (lot 372, estimate £800-1200). A Burmese bowl circa 1870 (lot 399) thought by the owners to be a silver gilt vessel of trifling worth, was instead recognized as a solid gold example by Tennants expert Michael Baggott during a routine open day valuation. It may yet yield a king’s ransom at an estimate of £6000-8000.
Lot 399
Lot 576
An old pear cut diamond solitaire ring (lot 576, estimate £2500-3500) sold by descendants of early 20th century music hall comedian Jack Clifford, friend of Will Fyffe and a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats. Family tradition suggests that when show actors were having a good run in a town they would often buy quality pieces of jewellery (as they could easily and discreetly be transported wherever they went). If they then ever needed to raise some cash quickly to pay for a new venture, or to help them out in leaner times, then they would sell. This is a piece which, back then, never needed to be sold, and is set with a beautifully crisp pear cut diamond in a plain but versatile setting.
Lot 1032
Lot 1172
A colourfully painted Norwegian communal drinking bowl or Kasa dating to around 1800 (lot 1030, estimate £600-800) is humorously carved with a wedding procession and revelling guests. It is both tactile and sculptural and will be a magnet for collectors of treen. The skilled and lively hand of Lincolnshire wood carver Thomas Wilkinson Wallis (1822-1903) can be startlingly witnessed in a one piece carved limewood still life group of birds 1856 (lot 1032, estimate £2000-3000). It is something of a momento mori - as the artist has carved an uncannily life-like bottle fly, very much “alive” on the neck of the dead chaffinch..
The Decorative Arts section includes a voluptuous selection of Art Nouveau and Art Deco bronze figures of nudes – always popular for a modern minimalist interior – one sensuously depicts a long-haired young woman kneeling on an animal skin (lot 1172, estimate £2000-3000) by Swiss sculptor Carl Binder (fl.1904-22).
Lot 1307
Objects that have featured in films always have an added cachet of interest – a superb replica of John Harrison’s first marine timekeeper H1 (lot 1307, estimate £5000-7000) made for the drama feature film Longitude, released in 2002, which starred Michael Gambon (as John Harrison) and Jeremy Irons. The film was based on the Dava Sobel international bestseller book Longitude.
Fine furniture and paintings from around the world complete the catalogue which is open for free viewing (and no catalogue needed) on Sunday 21 March 11am-4pm, and Monday 22 March to Thursday 25 March, 9am-4pm.
Further Enquiries: Adam N Schoon