POST-SALE NEWS RELEASE - December 2020

14 December, 2020

NEWS RELEASE     
 
DATE:  14th December 2020    
 

LOTS OF SURPRISES IN MITCHELLS LIVELY THREE DAY SALE

Mitchells Antiques & Fine Art Sale got off to a cracking start last week from the very first lot, a late 19th century Chinese cylindrical vase, which sold for an impressive £1,000 against an estimate of only £100-£150. More valuable ceramics quickly followed with the highest selling lot of the entire sale being a pair of 19th century Chinese celadon vases sold for £6,300 to a buyer in China against an estimate of £2,000-£3,000.  A large 1912 Royal Worcester two handled vase painted with highland cattle by John Stinton valued at £700-£1,000 also did extremely well eventually selling for £3,000.  Thanks to global online bidding, the sale totalled an impressive £288,000 overall in spite of the effects of the current pandemic.

Other surprise lots were a 19th century Minton Parian figure of a youthful Hercules valued at £150-£250 sold for £2,500 and a late 17th century English sampler sold for £2,400 against a valuation of  £100-£150.  One of the biggest shocks in the sale was a collection of eight 18th century scrap albums containing postcards, greetings cards, prints, fashion plates, photographs and other scraps which sailed past its estimate of £50-£80 eventually selling for £900 much to the amazement of salegoers. 

The most valuable pieces of furniture were a Victorian walnut marquetry circular centre table sold for £3,600 and a matched set of nine Regency ebonised and gilt dining chairs with a hammer price of £3,000 against an estimate of £300-£500. A brown leather Chesterfield settee also did well selling for £1,300 as did a Mouseman of Kilburn armchair with an estimate of £300-£500 which made £900.

The highest selling lot amongst the paintings, drawings and prints was a Pablo Picasso hand signed limited edtion etching from the Erotica Series “The Old Man and His Tonkinese Hat” which had been expected to make £800-£1,200 but sold for £2,900.  The sale also included two charcoal drawings “Cumbrian Village” and “Cumbrian Farmstead” by local artist Percy Kelly (1918-1993) which both sold for £2,200 against estimates of £1,000-£1,500.  The biggest surprise amongst the fine art was a pair of oil on canvas paintings of the Langdale Pikes by W.J.  Fairlie valued at £200-£300 which achieved a hammer price of £1,700. 

 More unusual lots in the sale included two 19th century carved wooden ships’ figureheads “Lady Rachel” and “Captain Hawthorne”, believed to have been made by the Maryport figurehead maker James Brooker, which both sold to a restorer for £1,700 each.             

 
A fully illustrated catalogue with all the hammer prices achieved during the sale can be viewed online at www.mitchellsantiques.co.uk.  Mitchells next Antiques & Fine Art Sale will be on Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th and Friday 26th March with a closing date for entries of Tuesday 16th February.  Anyone requiring a free valuation of items for potential sale should contact the Auctioneers Mark Wise or Michael Roberts on 01900 827800.

Entries are also now invited for Mitchells next Vintage & Antique Toy & Model Sale on Thursday 11th February.  The deadline for entries is 8th JanuaryAnyone requiring a free valuation of items they are considering entering for sale should contact Auctioneer Ewan Duff on 01900 827800Entries are also invited for the Spring Country Sporting Sale.  Contact Auctioneer James Moore on 01900 827800 for a free valuation of items for sale.  The deadline for entries is Thursday 25th March.

ENDS
 
For further information about this News Release and additional images, contact Elaine Wise on 07805 881436 or [email protected].
 
Mitchells
Antiques & Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers
The Saleroom
47 Station Road
Cockermouth
Cumbria CA13 9PZ
 
Tel:  01900 827800
Website:  
www.mitchellsantiques.co.uk