September delivered the best Fine Art sale results for five years at Hansons Auctioneers’ Derbyshire saleroom – fuelled by bids from 32 countries.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “It was an exceptional auction brimming with high-quality antiques. It delivered strong results for our clients and attracted bids from all over the world. Most of the top 10 lots were sold to clients outside the country.
A particularly fine collection of paintings caught the attention of the international art press. Top among them was lot 432, a 16th century Flemish oil painting of William ‘The Silent’, also known as William of Orange (1533-1584) and, in the Netherlands, Father of the Fatherland. The painting, attributed to the circle of Adriaen Thomasz/Key (c.1545 – c.1589), hammered at £20,000 (estimate £3,000-£5,000). The premium-inclusive total paid by a European trade buyer was £26,360.
Another painting to impress was lot 417 by English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet Edward Lear (1812-1888). The atmospheric watercolour landscape captured Mahabalipooram on the Coromandel Coast of Tamil, Nadu, India. It smashed its £2,000-£4,000 guide to hammer at £10,500 (premium-inclusive £14,721) and is returning to India.
Lear also produced lot 425, Hummingbird, a pen and ink watercolour which reached £3,600, double its £1,500-£2,500 guide (premium-inclusive £5,008). Lear is mostly known for his poetry and prose, especially limericks, but also excelled at art.
In the Oriental section, lot 308, consigned from a Nottinghamshire client, created Far Eastern interest. A Japanese bronze and mixed metal inlaid figure of Benkei outstripped its guide of £8,000 to £12,000 to achieve £19,000. The premium-inclusive total paid was £27,146.
But the most jaw-dropping result came courtesy of a 17th century, transitional period Chinese blue and white porcelain planter, painted with seven figures in a rocky and misty landscape. It hammered at £10,500 from a £150-£250 guide. The premium-inclusive total paid by a Chinese buyer was £14,896.
Mr Hansons said: “This really was a remarkable price bearing in mind it had been heavily restored with extensive repairs. It was found in a house in Manchester.”
A star among the silverware was lot 7, an Edwardian silver copy of The Warwick Vase, hallmarked Keen & Page, London, 1902. It hammered at £7,000, double its £3,000-£4,000 estimate. The total paid by a UK buyer was £9,226.
The intense demand for vintage designer watches was demonstrated by lot 149, a circa 1966 men’s Rolex Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master ‘Pepsi’ bezel steel cased automatic calendar wristwatch. Sold with its original box and paperwork, the Nottinghamshire find soared to £14,000 from a £8,000-£10,000 guide. A London buyer paid a total of £18,490.
Another item to gain international attention was lot 325, a 16th/17th century Indo-Portuguese mother of pearl dish crafted in Gujarat, India. It hammered at £8,500 and a Portuguese buyer paid a premium-inclusive total of £11,713.
Charles said: “This historically important antique was found on a dining table in Staffordshire. It was one of many important lots which appealed to worldwide collectors’ markets and demonstrated the strength of Hansons’ team of specialists who work hard to source items of quality for our fine art sales.
“Clients are also reaping the benefits of enhanced investment in digital advertising on new platforms. This is strengthening consignments and delivering quality sales which attract more bidders. This improves outcomes for our vendors. We were thrilled with the results.”
Items sold in Hansons Auctioneers’ September 27 Derbyshire Fine Art Auction.
Auction entries invited
Entries are invited for the November Fine Art sale. To book a free valuation, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.