The Summer Fine Art Sale Preview

Tennants Auctioneers’ Summer Fine Art Sale on the 13^th July is set to include fine art and antiques from the Estate of Mary, Countess of Gainsborough, amongst which is a very good family collection of portrait miniatures dating from the 16^th to early 20^th centuries. Miniatures are perhaps the most beguiling form of portraiture, given as love tokens or worn as a sign of allegiance at Court, they were designed to be worn and held close to the heart. Highlights of the collection include ‘Portrait of a Bearded Man’ by a Follower of François Clouet (French 1522-1572), estimated at £3,000-5,000 (plus buyer’s premium), ‘Portrait of a Lady Wearing a Blue Dress’ by Peter Cross (c.1650-1724), estimated at £2,000-3,000 (plus buyer’s premium), and ‘Portrait of Mr Lear’ by Christian Richter (1678-1732) estimated at £3,000-5,000 (plus buyer’s premium).

Further highlights from the collection include good family portraits, such as ‘Portrait of the Hon. Penelope Noel’, attributed to Cornelius Johnson (1593-1661) (estimate: £5.000-7,000 plus buyer’s premium), ‘Portrait of the Hon. Martha Penelope Noel, by Circle of Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680) (estimate: £5,000-7,000 plus buyer’s premium), and ‘Portrait of a Lady in a Yellow Dress with Page’, by Circle of Francis Cotes (1726-1770) (estimate: £4,000-6,000 plus buyer’s premium). Also up for sale from the Estate is a late 17^th century brass striking lantern clock by John Knibb of Oxford, one of the foremost clockmakers of his day (estimate: £3,000-5,000 plus buyer’s premium). Fine furniture from the estate includes a late 18^th century Louis XV bombé commode (estimate: £3,000-4,000 plus buyer’s premium) and a George III serpentine commode (estimate: £1,200-1,800 plus buyer’s premium).

From other vendors come a good offering of paintings including sporting art led by an impressive hunting scene ‘Master of the Hounds’ by Heywood Hardy (estimate: £15,000-20,000 plus buyer’s premium). A Dutch canal scene by Jan Hendrik Verheyden (1778-1846) is entered with an estimate of £8,000-12,000 (plus buyer’s premium), and ‘Two girls paddling in a stream’ by the American John George Brown (1831-1913) is offered with an estimate of £10,000-15,000 (plus buyer’s premium). Portraits of note include ‘Portrait of Sir John Boys’ attributed to William Dobson (1611-1646) (estimate: £3,000-5,000 plus buyer’s premium), an early 16^th century English School ‘Portrait of a Gentleman in a black coat and hat’ (estimate: £10,000-15,000 plus buyer’s premium) and a Studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) ‘Portrait of Johann the Younger, Count of Nassau Siegen’ (estimate: £8,000-12,000 plus buyer’s premium).

The sale also includes a strong selection of silver, including a George II silver mazarine (serving dish liner) by Paul de Lamerie, London 1745, engraved with the arms of the Duncombe and Campbell families (estimate: £1,500-2,000 plus buyer’s premium). Paul de Lamerie (1688-1751) was the greatest silversmith of his age and created some of the most spectacular and creative silverware of the 18^th century. Also of note are a William and Mary silver tankard by Anthony Nelme, London 1693 (estimate £2,000-3,000 plus buyer’s premium), and an impressive twin-handled silver wine cistern, made by James Robinson of New York in the mid-20^th century in an 18^th century style. Weighing in at close to 500 troy ounces, it is on offer with an estimate of £18,000-25,000 (plus buyer’s premium).

Fine furniture in the sale includes a rare Irish Killarney yewwood and arbitus breakfast table, c. 1840, estimated at £4,000-6,000 (plus buyer’s premium), and a walnut and crossbanded chest-on-chest, c. 1740, estimated at £3,000-4,000 (plus buyer’s premium), and a George III carved pine late 18^th century Palladian chimney piece, attributed to John Carr of York, estimated at £1,000-1,500 (plus buyer’s premium). 

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