Over 900 lots of antiques, artworks and collectors’ items will go under the hammer as part of a large-scale Fine Sale hosted by Cheffins on 9th and 10th December. The sale will also include a vast selection of Asian art with over 390 lots offered.
The highlight of the paintings section is a portrait of Lady Mary FitzAlan, Duchess of Norfolk (1540 – 1557), which dates back to circa 1562 – 1580, based on dendrochronology, from the Circle of Hans Eworth. The sitter was the sole heiress of the 19th Earl of Arundel and married Thomas, 4th Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshall of England. A three-quarter length portrait of Lady Mary painted by Hans Eworth to commemorate her marriage in 1555 is now in the Yale Center for British Art at New Haven, Connecticut. The painting offered is a rare and important image of the sitter who was an influential figure during the period. It has an estimate of £5,000 - £8,000. Another historic painting on offer is a study for ‘The Battle of Waterloo’ by George Jones RA (1786 – 1869). The work belongs to a series of depictions of the Battle of Waterloo by the artist, for which he earned the nickname ‘Waterloo Jones’ and the appreciation of the likes of the Duke of Wellington whom he served under in the Peninsula War. From 1816 onwards, Jones exhibited five paintings of the battle at the Royal Academy and six at the British Institution, and the largest of these paintings are now at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and in the Royal Collection. This picture has an estimate of £2,000 - £3,000. There is also an additional painting of the countryside at Waterloo by George Jones which is expected to sell for £3,000 - £5,000. The paintings section also includes a series of views of Venice by Antoine Bouvard and Alfred Pollintine from the 19th century, with varied estimates from £2,000 - £8,000.
The Asian Art section is dominated by the vast 350-piece Roger Moss Collection. Consigned from Roger Moss’s family based in Yorkshire, the collection includes ancient sculptures, bronzes, vessels, ceramics, artworks, calligraphy, pictures and furniture from throughout China, Tibet, Nepal, Africa, India, Thailand and Indonesia, with a total value of up to over £200,000. Highlights of the collection include a limestone Buddha, perhaps Northern Wei, China, probably from the vicinity of Qingzhou, Shandong Province, dating from 386 – 534 AD, which carries an estimate of £5,000 - £8,000. There is also a Chinese stone Buddhist stele, perhaps from the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386 – 534), which is set to sell for between £3,000 - £5,000 and a cream stone recumbent water buffalo, probably from the Tang Dynasty or earlier, which has the same estimate.
The sale also includes a wide range of antique furniture, with highlights including a Regency rosewood library drum table in the manner of Thomas Hope which has an estimate of £4,000 - £6,000, as well as a pair of George III painted satinwood demi-lune card tables which are expected to sell for £3,000 - £5,000. Another more unusual offering is a Black Forest hall stand, carved as a standing bear on skis, which has an estimate of £1,500 - £2,500.
The collectors’ section sees a vast range of military and antique weapons, including swords, pistols and WWI uniforms. There is also a 19th century commemorative snuffbox from the building of the Thames Tunnel and a scale model of The Ancient House in Ipswich from the early 20th century. One of the more unusual items is also an album of photographs from Majorca, 1932-33, amongst which are a collection of images of Cecil Aldin’s studio and his famous dog ‘models’.
Martin Millard, Director, Cheffins comments: “The December Fine Sale has produced a particularly large and varied offering across all disciplines, and we expect demand to be similarly wide-ranging. This year has seen exponential growth in online bidding as a result of the pandemic, and we have been pleased to welcome record numbers of new bidders to our sales, (albeit mostly in a virtual sense) both private and trade, from across the globe. With a sale as eclectic as this, we expect to welcome many more in December”
Auction: The Fine Sale – 9th and 10th December 2020 from 11am
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA