A landmark three-day auction of art, antiques and silver from Corby Castle, Cumbria, which was held from 22nd – 24th January at Tennants Auctioneers, North Yorkshire, drew bidders from across the world. Single-owner country house auctions are enormously attractive to buyers, and the Corby Castle sale was no exception; the sale realised a total hammer price of £1.48m - 55% over the top estimate - and an extraordinary 99.6% selling rate.
Director and Auctioneer Jane Tennant said of the sale: “It has been a privilege from start to finish to handle such an important country house collection from the North of England. We were delighted with the enthusiastic reception of the sale by eager bidders as well as the fantastic results, which prove just how important provenance is at auction. Lord and Lady Ballyedmond carefully curated an extraordinary collection, with pieces by top makers and examples of fine craftsmanship, which was reflected in very confident bidding throughout the sale.”
The sale comprised over 1,130 lots, ranging from period portraits and 17th century tapestries to decorative 19th century furniture and clocks, and one of the most extensive collections of silver to come onto the market in recent times. Lord and Lady Ballyedmond carefully restored and furnished Corby as a much-loved family retreat for grand entertaining, with style and elegance apparent throughout. The auction provided a unique opportunity for buyers at all levels to acquire exquisite and rare pieces from this outstanding property.
Silver was the stand-out success of the sale, with pieces of exceptional quality and size achieving remarkable results, aided by wider market forces and record silver prices globally. The silver section alone realised a total hammer price of £699,290 for the 324 lots, 57% over top estimate, with every single lot selling. The top lots of silver included an Indian Silver Venison-Dish and Cover by Hamilton & Co, Calcutta, which was made in the first half of the 19th century (sold for £22,000 all figures exclude buyer’s premium), a Massive Edward VII Silver Monteith-Bowl by Charles Stuart Harris, London, 1901 (sold for £16,000), and a Massive Portuguese Silver Tray from the first half of the 19th century (sold for £16,000). A further tranche of silver from Corby Castle will be sold in a further sale that will take place on 13th March.
The top lot of the whole sale was an impressive and beautifully painted still life entitled “The Day’s Hunt” by Italian artist Giorgio Lucchesi (1855-1941), which sold for £42,000. Lucchesi spent his whole life in his hometown of Lucca, painting still lifes, landscapes and genre scenes in the Academic Neoclassical tradition; however, in 1885, he became inspired by 17th century Flemish masters, and began specialising in painting grand still lifes incorporating big game such as the present example.
Further notable results across the sale included imposing and large-scale grand antiques, which encapsulated the Corby Castle collection, such as a French Bronze Ormolu Striking Mantle Clock made circa 1870, which sold for £8,500, a Pair of Gilt and Patinated Bronze Figural Candlesticks, which sold for £9,000, and a Louis XV Aubusson Verdure Tapestry attributed to the Jacques Dumonteil, which sold for £7,000.
ABOUT CORBY CASTLE
One of Cumbria’s most historically important mansion houses, grade I-listed Corby Castle sits on a plateau, rising above the picturesque River Eden to the east of Carlisle. With a long history, the estate was purchased in 1611 by Lord William Howard, the third son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. The house is built around a red sandstone peel tower, or fortified tower house, built in the 13th century; William Howard added a two-storied L-shaped house to the peel tower, and the house was once again modified in the early 19th century by descendant Henry Howard. Between 1812 and 1814, Scottish architect Peter Nicholson gave the castle a new rectangular plan and the harmonious neo-classical façade in the distinctive local red sandstone that graces the building today. Corby Castle remained in the Howard family until 1994, when Lord and Lady Ballyedmond, as new owners, began an inspired revival of Corby, giving new life to one of the great Cumbrian mansions.
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