A French Historical Tapestry

The auction features a beautiful selection of textiles, including tapestries. A particularly striking piece is this 18th-century French historical tapestry, depicting Artemisia and the Tomb of Mausolus.

It has been suggested that the scene may belong to a series of tapestries depicting episodes from the life of Artemisia II of Caria. Artemisia was the sister and later wife of King Mausolus, ruler of Caria in southwestern Anatolia. Following his death circa 353 BCE, she ruled as sole monarch for approximately three years.

She is remembered as a devoted spouse. In his honour, she commissioned the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Although the structure is now lost, it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. She was also said to have been so grief-stricken after his death that she mixed his ashes with wine and consumed them, symbolically becoming a living tomb to him. This episode is the subject of the tapestry.

A Fine Queen Anne Cabinet on Chest, Once Belonging to Queen Charlotte

Following straight on, we have a fine Queen Anne olive wood oyster, holly and walnut cabinet on chest which once belonged to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818), Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and wife of King George III. It was later bequeathed to her Lady in Waiting, Miss Caroline Smith (née Vernon), and thence by descent, was passed down through the various generations of her family.

Miss Caroline Vernon (d. 1829) was one of five daughters of Henry Vernon of Hilton Park, Stafford and sister of Anne Vernon (1744-1768), the wife of Noel Hill, 1st Lord Berwick (1745-1789). She was a Lady in Waiting to Queen Charlotte from 1768-1818.

Sold together with the cabinet on chest, we have the original letters of royal correspondence between Miss M. Pickton, the owner in 1914, and Buckingham Palace, on behalf of Queen Mary of Teck, which confirm that it did indeed once belong to Queen Charlotte.

A Pair of George III Commodes, Attributed to Pierre Langlois

From a distinguished private collection, we have this pair of George III kingwood, rosewood, Harewood and marquetry serpentine commodes. They are designed in the George III 'French' fashion, first introduced around 1760, and can be attributed to Pierre Langlois of Tottenham Court Road, one of the foremost London cabinet-makers. Langlois has become synonymous with this particular style of furniture, and the ormolu mounts were almost certainly supplied by Langlois' son-in-law Dominique Jean, the bronze caster and gilder, with whom he shared his London workshop.

Langlois's elite clientele included the Duke of Bedford, the Duchess of Northumberland, the Earl of Coventry, and the writer and aesthete Horace Walpole.

A Rare Equestrian Bronze by Isidore-Jules Bonheur

A prolific and talented painter, Isidore-Jules Bonheur is primarily known for his sculpture. Growing up surrounded by the arts, with his mother Caroline being a musician, and his father Raymond a drawing tutor and painter, Isidore and his siblings went on to forge successful artistic careers. Isidore trained under his father, alongside his sister Rosa. His first submission to the Paris Salon was in 1848, and he would continue to exhibit there for over 50 years. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1875 and 1876. 

Offered in this auction, we have a rare equestrian bronze by Isidore-Jules Bonheur, titled 'Le Jeu de Polo'. It captures the moment of the 'throw in' of a polo game, showing two figures on horseback. The model for this work was first exhibited by Isidore at the French Salon in 1897.

Recognising the likely market engendered by British sporting culture, Isidore modelled numerous hunting groups and equine subjects. As with this example, the majority of his work was cast in his lifetime by his brother-in-law, Hippolyte Peyrol, husband to Isidore's sister, Juliette Bonheur. Peyrol operated his own foundry and cast the majority of Rosa and Isidore's work which are distinguished by their exceptional casting and finely chased and patinated presentation.

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Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 March 2026, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing at Dreweatts Newbury (full sale): Donnington Priory, RG14 2JE
  • Friday 20 March: 10am-4pm
  • Saturday 21 March: 10am-3pm
  • Sunday 22 March: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 23 March: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 24 March: 9am-4pm
  • Wednesday 25 March: 9am-1pm
• Dreweatts 360 Virtual Auction Tour | Available from Friday 20 March

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