A Charles II olivewood, walnut and fruitwood oyster veneered chest of drawers

Starting day one of the auction, Lot 1, is a Charles II olivewood, walnut and fruitwood oyster veneered chest of drawers, circa 1680. It is unusual to see such a well executed combination of marquetry and oyster veneers throughout as this chest demonstrates. The chest is also extremely well proportioned.

A George IV rosewood ‘Birds Eye’ maple pedestal table

Circa 1825, Lot 268, is a George IV rosewood, maple and parcel gilt pedestal table. This highly impressive statement piece features a huge variety of specimen marbles and stone of which there are very few if any duplicates, including Blue John, Porphyry and many others.

A George I walnut wing armchair

Included in the sale, Lot 27, is a George I walnut wing armchair, circa 1725, featuring cabriole legs with Venus shells, husks and ‘C’ scrolls detailing with claw and ball feet. From the collection of the Late Sir Joseph Edward Hotung (1930 - 16 December 2021), a businessman, art collector and philanthropist. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1993 and he received honorary degrees from St George's, University of London, University of Hong Kong and the University of London.

This handsome walnut wing chair was once part of the collection of Judge Irwin Untermeyer (d. 1973) who assembled one of the most important private collections of English furniture in the world. Some of the collection was bequeathed to the Metropolitan Museum in New York, where it formed an important part of the museum's collection of English furniture.

An important and rare George III drawing room suite

Lot 141 comprises twelve open armchairs and two sofas, attributed to William and John Linnell, circa 1780. Believed to have been acquired by Thomas Austen Treffry (1782-1850) and in-situ at Place, Fowey, Cornwall by 1832. Two sketches by John Linnell, dating to 1770-1775, for an oval-back armchair and a settee, that share close similarities to the present lot can be seen in the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum (accession numbers E.123-1929 & E.82-1929)

A carved marble bust of King George II

From the English mid-18^th century, Lot 74 is a carved marble bust of King George II (1638-1760), after Michael Rysbrack (1693-1770). King George II is portrayed wearing a laurel wreath, classical armour with lions' heads on the pauldrons, the George medal, Garter Star and sash. His gorget is cantered by a medusa head with an oval medallion of St George and the dragon. The sculpture is positioned on a swept marble base and the original first version is held in The Royal Collection (RCIN 31322). In the cataloguing notes for the bust, it records that this was one of a pair of portrait busts by Rysbrack commissioned by Queen Caroline in 1738 as part of the decoration of William Kent's new library at St James's Palace.

A George IV mahogany and brass marquetry drum library table

Another impressive statement piece in the auction is Lot 362, a Regency mahogany and brass marquetry drum library table. Featuring a tooled leather insert top, it was created in the manner of highly regarded furniture maker George Bullock, circa 1825.  The table was previously purchased from an auction at Shelton Abbey, Arklow, County Wicklow and by repute was part of the furnishings of the previous country home of the same family in Northamptonshire.

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Auction Details

Tuesday 27 & Wednesday 28 June | 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Browse Day One of the auction

Browse Day Two of the auction

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VIEWING:

• Viewing in Newbury:
  • Friday 23 June: 10am - 4pm
  • Saturday 24 June: 10am - 3pm
  • Sunday 25 June: 10am - 3pm
  • Monday 26 June: 10am - 4pm
  • Tuesday 27 June : from 8.30am
  • Wednesday 28 June: from 8.30am