A William & Mary Chest of Drawers

To start the auction, we are pleased to be offering a rare William & Mary olivewood, crossbanded and ivory inlaid chest of drawers, dating to circa 1690. A hand written label found in one of  the drawers, indicates that this chest of drawers was once in the blue drawing room of Norfolk House. Norfolk House at St. James Square in Westminster was built between 1748 and 1752 as the London townhouse of Edward Howard, 9th Duke of Norfolk (1686-1777). This building was demolished in 1938.

A George II Mahogany and Marble Console or Hall Centre Table

We then have Lot 73, an Irish George II mahogany and marble table which can either be used as a console or hall centre table. Dating to circa 1750, this table was presented as a wedding gift from Joseph Buckmaster (1721-1808) to his son John Buckmaster in 1791. It was then later inherited by William Buckmaster (1797-1843), and then by Thomas Buckmaster (1798-1893). William and Thomas Buckmaster were successful tailors in Savile Row, who once held a monopoly to supply gold braid to the British army. William's grandson, Herbert Buckmaster (1881-1966), was the founder of the private members club Buck's Club in Mayfair - the birthplace of the popular cocktail 'Buck's Fizz'.

It was then later inherited by Jane Buckmaster, nee Cheyne, (1808 -) founder of The Buckmaster Memorial Home, Buckmaster House. Following her death, the table was moved to Buckmaster House, Broadstairs, and remained in situ until April 2024.

A Fine and Rare Library Desk by George Bullock

Dating to circa 1815, we have Lot 364, a fine and rare mahogany and ebony inlaid library desk by the eminent Regency designer George Bullock. This library desk was supplied by George Bullock for 'The Hall' at Raith House, Kirkcaldy, Fife.

It is listed in the 1895 'Inventory of the Mansion House of Raith, Kirkcaldy', p.31, by Alexander Dowell as a 'Mahogany and inlaid pedestal writing table'. Robert Ferguson, M.P. for Fife and his wife, the former Countess of Elgin, employed Bullock to transform their villa in the most fashionable antique taste. It typifies the popular Grecian style of the early 19th century, utilising bold architectural form and elegant 'Grecian' ebony inlay, popularised by Thomas Hope's, Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1807 and George Smith's, Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, 1808.

'The water-bearers 'La Jeune Syracusaine' & 'La Jeune Corinthienne'' by Jacques Léonard Maillet

We are pleased to be offering Lot 362, late 19th century bronzes, titled The water-bearers 'La Jeune Syracusaine' & 'La Jeune Corinthienne' by Jacques Léonard Maillet (1823-1895). Work by this sculptor is relatively uncommon on the open market, despite a lengthy and successful career which involved exhibiting with great success at the Universal Exhibitions of 1855, 1856 and 1867 and the Salon des Artistes Français.

Born in Paris in 1823, Maillet entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1840 and studied under Jacques Feuchère and Jean-Jacques Pradier. In 1847 he won the Grand Prix de Rome and left for Rome where he stayed for four years at the Academy of France and was visited by Gustave Flaubert and Maxime Du Camp. His working life was long but seems to mainly have been providing commissions and restorations for municipal and ecclesiastical buildings including the Paris-Louvre, Paris Opera, City Hall, churches of St. Séverin, Ste Clotilde, St. Leu, La Trinité, and St. Joseph.

He also spent a considerable time experimenting and working to successfully pioneer a polychromatic terracotta sculpture medium. In this he was successful and in 1878 exhibited two figures in this new medium at the Salon des Artistes Français; "Young Syracusan" (Salon n°4429) and "Young Corinthian Woman" (Salon n°4430). Both were reinterpretations of earlier work by the artist- notably "Young Syracusan" which he'd shown to great success in the 1857 Salon. Whether this pair of bronzes were commissioned at this time- or from 20 years earlier is, as yet, impossible to determine. Certainly, they are the largest pair of bronzes by the artist to appear at auction and are likely to have been an expensive one off commission from the sculptor.

A Rare Heraldic Table Carpet

From the selection of textiles in the auction, we have Lot 207, a rare 17th century heraldic table carpet which comes to auction from a private collection. Although traditionally catalogued as a "carpet"- this fine and rare item was intended for laying on a table as a costly and highly decorative cover, rather than on the floor. At this period textiles were rarely used as floor coverings except in the wealthiest households.

The heraldic designs are less detailed and refined compared to other examples such as the Lewknor Table Carpet, or a comparable Elizabethan example held at Bramhall Hall. However, unlike examples held in the Victoria and Albert Museum such as the 1603 Apsley carpet, the heraldry is woven within the main design rather than assigned to the borders. This would suggest a specific commission possibly produced in a professional Spanish Netherlands workshop.

The use of strapwork suggests a mid to late 16^th century date but slightly looser in design than examples such as the knotwork in The Luttrell Table Carpet (Burrell Collection of Glasgow Museum). Almost certainly it originally had a further border which would have hung down vertically from the table's edges. A comparison with the overall design can be made with a 17th Century Spanish Part-Silk Netherlands needlework Table Carpet from the Mayorcas collection, sold Christie's London 12^th February 1999, lot 407. The same composition of central oval panel surrounded  by floral strapwork.

A Flemish Biblical Tapestry

We also have Lot 6, a late 16th or early 17th century Flemish biblical  tapestry. It depicts King Solomon being visited by the Queen of Sheba bearing gifts with an entourage and a camel train. To the upper left, there is an architectural portico, which is possibly Oudenaarde. By repute, this tapestry comes from a castle in Belgium. The composition bears close comparison to an example dating from 1575-1580 and titled "A Woman Paying Homage to a King" which is held by the National Trust at Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire.

One of six 'Old Testament' tapestries in the Drawing Room, the Hardwick example possibly depicts Abigail approaching King David. The female figures are more subservient than this example - with the Queen and her entourage bearing rich and expensive gifts. The king's face however is remarkably similarly portrayed - indicative of the versatility of the weavers and their capacity to tweak existing compositions, forms and designs to accommodate the needs and wishes of purchasers.

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Auction Details

Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 June, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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VIEWING:

• Viewing in Newbury:
  • Friday 21 June: 10am-4pm
  • Saturday 22 June: 10am-3pm
  • Sunday 23 June: 10am-3pm
  • Monday 24 June: 10am-4pm
  • Tuesday 25 June: 9am-4pm
  • Wednesday 26 June: 9am-4pm