Drama at the sale - 17th Century Style.
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A snap shot of how auctions used to look – a fascinating ‘stage set’ peopled with characters and offering a mouth-watering array of goods for sale. Oh! to be able to enter and buy a few pieces at 17th century prices! This important oil painting is of a rare subject and will be of interest to many who buy and sell at auction. Entitled ‘A Dutch Auction’, it was painted by Antoon Francois Heyligers (1828–1897) and is estimated to bring £4000 - £6000 at Tennants Spring Catalogue Sale (12-13 April 2006). Head of Pictures at Tennants, Allan Darwell says ‘This very fine painting is in good original condition and is signed and dated ‘1858’. It remains in its original elaborately decorated Victorian gilt plaster frame which has the title of the work and the artist’s name inscribed and measures 50cm by 70.5cm in size.’ The painting is a romanticised recreation of a sale – there is a certain ‘tension’ evoked by the group in the room behind the auction – is this a bankruptcy sale or a deceased estate? The porter (standing) on the table, holds a brass warming pan, while his colleague upholds a stack of pewter plates. The sale clerk appears more interested in the pretty women than in his work! The painting hung for many decades in Field House, the home of the Tillotson family in Bolton. Mr Marcus Tillotson (nephew of the first Lord Leverhume), who died in August 2005, was a well known figure in Bolton. He was the grandson of the founder of The Bolton Evening News and was chairman of the company from 1956 to 1971. The family is now selling the contents of this important Lancashire home. For the sale catalogue please contact Tennants at enquiry@tennants-ltd.co.uk or call on 01969 623780.
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