Fight against flatpack goes on
Cheshire auctioneers Peter Wilson says it is continuing its crusade against the flatpack by attracting more antique furniture to their sales. Managing Director Peter Wilson called it his “fight against the flatpack”.
In their recent recent autumn fine art auction, including early oak, Regency, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian pieces, Peter said there had been a “terrific response and brilliant prices.”
He continued, “I went out on house visits and got it into the sale, I catalogued it and I was on the rostrum to sell it,and I’m delighted with the results.
“Every auctioneer in the land knows that in these uncertain days, gold and jewellery is eclipsing all other departments in the saleroom, but the brilliant prices we achieved for clients’ antique furniture proves there’s still a demand for quality pieces offered with realistic estimates.
“Demand was strong for early oak and 18th century walnut. A superb walnut chest on chest with nine drawers that was unsold in our July sale sold this time for £1,400 against a pre-sale low estimate of £800.” The chest was purchased by the Welsh trade.
Other top lots in the sale included:
A rare and unusual Welsh primitive oak and ash five-legged child’s armchair was perhaps the most notable 18th century vernacular furniture, selling to a London buyer for £650, more than three times its estimate,
A group of eight 17th century oak straightback stools, made respectively in North Cheshire, South Lancashire or Derbyshire. Most wanted were two with central back panels carved with stylised flowers and grapes on pricked backgrounds, one with a bobbin-turned front stretcher, which each sold for £750 against estimates of £300-400. Another retaining traces of original black painted background and gun barrel front legs sold for £420.
An imposing 205cm-wide George III oak and mahogany crossbanded breakfront housekeeper’s cupboard, the upper section with four doors with fielded panels, the base with central two door cupboard, flanked by seven drawers sold for £1,800 to a Shropshire buyer.
The most valuable lot in the sale was an oil on canvas by Frederick Gore (1913-2009), The Black Barn, Clements Reach, Meopham, Kent, signed titled and dated 1982, 70.5 x 90.5cm. (27.75 x 35.75in). It sold for £5,400.
Most contested among a number of works by Manchester artist Geoffrey Key (b. 1941) was Orange Moon, signed and dated ’66, an oil on board, 90.5 x 121cm. (35.75 x 47.75in.) which sold for £3,600, while Leeds-born Donald McIntyre (1923-2009), was represented by Easdale Island, a seascape, acrylic on board, 51 x 85cm. (20 x 33.5in.), which sold for £3,000.