John Nicholsons are one of the largest auctioneers in the south of England. Based in Fernhurst, Surrey/Sussex and Chelsea, London, we offer a professional auction and valuation service for all manner of antiques and collectables, including glass, china, porcelain, toys, jewellery, silver, bronzes, furniture, watercolours, prints and oil paintings, books, photographs and manuscripts.
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Nicholson’s Auction a Success
John Nicholson’s recent two-day antique and fine art sale was a great success. The first sale of the year is usually a measure of things to come and things are looking promising for Nicholson’s. The sale attracted a good turnout and viewing over the weekend before hand was good with high numbers, despite the sunny weather. At the end of last year Nicholson’s had a rare pair of Narwhal tusks consigned for sale. A Narwhal is an Artic type of whale and is characterised by a single long twisted tusk protruding from it’s head. These tusks are highly desirable and always fetch a premium. Narwhal tusks have always been surrounded by an element of mythology and in Medieval Europe, they were believed to be the horns of unicorns. During the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth received a carved and bejeweled narwhal tusk for £10,000 - the cost of a castle - which she used as a sceptre. Today these animals and their horns are a protected species under the CITIES convention and require a license to sell them. These particular tusks had been in the vendors family since the early 20th century so the auctioneers were able to apply for a permit to sell them. They attracted a very high level of interest, and as they came under the hammer there were 7 telephone bidders keen to own them. The pair were secured for £23,000 including premium. Another surprise was a very rare 17th century blue and white circular tin glaze plate decorated with William & Mary. In unusually good condition and with no major damage it was battled out to £5000 by five telephone bidders. Other highlights of the first day included a Royal Worcester six piece coffee set painted with game birds by James Stinton which fetched £1600, a bronze horse by the British sculptor John Skeaping (1901-1980) which made £4600, a rare British Pattern 1818/1834 officers helmet of the 2nd of Queens Dragoons Guards which sold for £2900, a silver challenge cup presented to Castrol founder Sir Charles Wakefield which fetched £2500 and a good pair of 18th century Chippendale mahogany dining chairs which sold for £4500.
The second day’s sale consisted of antique and contemporary paintings and art. A small collection of modern art consigned by a vendor from Chelsea had attracted much interest throughout the view. The paintings and sculptures making up some 20 lots had been in storage since 1982 and all had been purchased from galleries in America when the family had lived there. A large abstract canvas by the American artist Kyle Morris (1918-1979) measuring 48 x 60ins sold for six times its estimate at £6500, a rare carved and painted wooden sculpture by the Chilean artist Marta Colvin (1907-1995) entitled ‘Oracle – bois’ and dated 1966 standing at nearly 4 feet high sold for £7000 and an oil by British artist Anne Redpath (1895-1965) ‘Objects on a brown cloth’ measuring 22 x 31ins sold for £7000. Other hightlights of the day included a watercolour by British artist Henry Sylvester Stannard (1870-1951) ‘The Old Homestead’ measuring 14.5 x 24.5ins it sold for £3250, two works by modern British artist John Tunnard (1900-1971) which sold for £3500 and £6500 and a large oil of local interest by Harry Goodwin (fl. 1867-1902), ‘Ferry at the Old Millmead Boathouse, Guildford’, measuring 34 x 71ins it sold for £6500. Nicholson’s next antique and fine art sale is the 26th & 27th March and a Modern & Pop Art sale on the 3rd April in St. James, London. Entries are being invite for both sales. For further information or to make an appointment contact Aubrey Dawson on 01428 653727.
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