Items from estate of Lord Charteris in sale
Around 100 lots from the estate of Lord Charteris of Amisfield will be some of the highlights of an upcoming sale at Gloucestershire auction house, Chorley’s.
Lord Charteris was a British Army officer and the longest-serving Assistant Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, becoming her principal private secretary in 1972.
It has been argued by some historians and commentators that Charteris was the Queen’s favourite courtier. On retirement from his royal role in 1977, the Charteris’ family moved to the Cotswold village of Wood Stanway, where the following year Lord Charteris was appointed Provost of Eton College before finally retiring in 1991.
The auction will feature presents from the Prince of Wales to Lord and Lady Charteris. Elsewhere are several historic watercolours by his great friend, Hugh Casson, which include The Garter Ceremony with Harold Macmillan and Harold Wilson (two former Prime ministers), two watercolours of Lord Charteris’s study at Buckingham Palace, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at Eton College Chapel.
There is a signed photo by both The Queen and Prince Charles, sitting with many statesmen, and several photographs of The Provost of Eton seated with members of Eton Political Society including Boris Johnson, his brother, Leo, and Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Lord Charteris was also a competent sculptor and several of his works are included in the auction.
Chorley’s November sale also has a strong emphasis on fine jewellery with a good variety of Victorian, Art deco and later pieces.
The auction features several stunning diamond rings that are estimated to be between £1,000-£3,000, as well as a diamond Victorian crescent brooch.
Further pieces to note include an extensive American sterling silver Monticello pattern table service, from Rogers, Lunt & Bowen, circa 1908, estimated at £1,000-£1,500.
There will be also several pieces by the prolific and sought-after 19th-century furniture maker Howard & Sons, including two armchairs and one sofa, with the latter estimated at £6,000-£8,000. Thomas Jenner-Fust, Director of Chorley’s, commented: “Howard & Sons opened for business in 1820 and were one of the pre-eminent furnishers of the Victorian era. They supplied upholstered furniture to Royal residences, stately homes and even the Savoy. Over the past twenty years their period furniture has become highly prized by interior designers, and we are very pleased to offer three rather special pieces at this sale”
An Adrien Manglard (1695-1760) oil canvas Bay of Baya Naples is estimated to fetch £4,000-£6,000, and a Minshulls pocket globe, circa 1810, has hopes of around £3,000-£5,000. Pocket globes were almost like an early pocket computer and the example in the sale shows the routes of Captain Cooks voyage of 1776, as well as Anson’s voyage in 1740-44.
The sale takes place on November 22 and 24.