In writing to preview our next auction on the 11th November, I can’t easily explain the excitement that is building up here in Ruislip. In the normal course of our business and from a local house clearance we have received generous instructions to offer what must be one of the most important Chinese vases to be offered for sale this century. Please check out further down our blog for a fabulous series of photographs of the vase, along with a full catalogue description.
The vase, once, in the 18th century, would have resided no doubt in the Chinese Royal Palace and was most certainly fired in the Imperial kilns. It is a piece of exquisite beauty and a supreme example of the skill of the ceramicist and decorator. How it reached Ruislip is something we shall never know, and that it is in such fine condition is amazing. David, our manager, admired it in the property and brought it to the attention of Luan, our consultant valuer. Only the briefest period of hesitancy existed before he rang me with the first of his ‘bulletins from the front’ which became more frequent as the hours of research at the V & A and the British Museum ticked away. The vase is of yang cai decoration and reticulated double walled construction. That is to say, there is an inner vase that can be viewed through the perforations of the main body. It is of the Qianlong period, circa 1740s. It is 16″ high and the ovoid body is decorated with 4 circular cartouches each masterfully carved and enamelled with humorous fish, all beneath a primrose yellow trumpet neck exquisitely painted. It is a masterpiece. If only it could talk!!  The estimate increases daily and will soon reach 7 figures! It will be the last lot before the furniture section.
HOWEVER, let us not ignore the rest of the sale because that is coming together well with, from another private home, a bronze bust by Degas, other Chinese works including a large 17th century cloisonné pot. In PORCELAIN AND POTTERY from Japan we have a large and beautifully decorated pair of jars and covers also in great condition. Meissen, Moorcroft, Lladro, a large Rosenthal stag, Doulton, Satsuma, abound and we have a Persian Qajar tiled picture, c.1900. JEWELLERY includes a fine ruby and diamond ring. Bought at Garrards for £17,000 it carries a £1000-£2000 estimate. Christmas is coming!! We have a large diamond bow brooch and a stylish 1970s gold flower brooch set with very large diamonds. A thousand or so each I guess. There is a large quantity of gold. SILVER is a developing section and the walls are already full of PICTURES by artists including Janos Viski, Kevin Chapman, G.O. de Gruchy, Max Hofler, Arthur Jenkins, Campbell Mellon, Charles Harrington, D. Lawrence, Phyllis Del Vecchio, John Alfred Wheeler and John Terris.
Sadly we recently lost one of our regular buyers. It is very kind of his family to ask us to sell his collection of CLOCKS. there are over 100 and they include a 19th century single fusee wall clock, 10.25 ins., other wall clocks, one 18th century, a two-weight Vienna regulator, Edwardian mantel clocks, a repeating carriage clock and a fine Regency ormolu mantel clock. BOOKS come to us from all directions. We have thousands. They include D.H. Lawrence and other first editions. You really must view. FURS include a fabulous full-length fox fur coat made of large male pelts and two wonderful mink coats. There are also old handbags. TOYS include two original boxed Dinky toys: 504 and 521, both lorries. We have a great collection of lead animals. We have a £5 note issued by the Pembrokeshire Bank, Narberth branch, and signed by Wm. Walters. Its number is 1442.
Other COLLECTABLES include pens, coins, post- and cigarette cards, stamps, framed old Chinese share certificates, old fishing items, and a Victorian cylinder musical box. A small group of ivories includes a fine carved ball. FURNITURE is a full section dominated by the most glamorous inlaid Italian dining suite fit for Wayne Rooney. From the same estate comes gold carved seat furniture. We have an important Victorian boulle games table in good order. Amongst the sea of brown are a Georgian bureau bookcase, good Georgian chests and writing tables, an antique George II style barrel-backed wing armchair, a Victorian Davenport, triple wardrobes, good quality oak dressers, Old Charm oak and a great quality oak plank-top dining table with chairs rub shoulders with a Victorian cast iron bath, white goods, 2 electric beds, Bang and Olufsen hi-fi, carpets and more.
The catalogue will be available from Saturday 6th November, with luck. There are plenty of photographs already – remember to keep scrolling down.
