Late Betty, Lady Grantchester

The sale includes 24 Lots from the collection of the late Betty, Lady Granchester, from her house, The Gate House in Kingston, Surrey.

Betty Suenson-Taylor was born Betty Moores in 1925. She was the eldest child of the Littlewoods founder Sir John Moores (1896-1993). Betty was educated at Cheltenham Ladies College and Newnham College, Cambridge. It was as an undergraduate at Cambridge that she met her husband Kenneth Suenson-Taylor, later 2nd Baron Grantchester.

In the early 1970s Betty joined the board of Littlewoods, and took over as Director in 1977, at a time when there were few women board directors. Betty was exceptionally renowned for her charitable work through the Moores Family Charity, as well as supporting women’s education at both Newnham College and Lucy Cavendish College in Cambridge. Her other charitable works included support for the Mersey Forest, Liverpool John Moores University and the Welsh National Opera. 

A particular highlight from this consignment is Lot 24, an extensive modern Royal Copenhagen 'Golden Basket' pattern dinner and breakfast service.

Royal Copenhagen was founded by Juliane Marie, Queen of Denmark and Norway in 1775. Alongside other European porcelain factories, such as Meissen, Sevres and Herend, Royal Copenhagen porcelain is sought after due to the highly skilled craftmanship which goes into each hand painted design.

The Summer Sale offers a wonderful opportunity to own an extensive and exquisite part dinner and breakfast service without breaking the bank. The service comprises approximately twenty-seven soup plates; sixty dinner plates; thirty-six breakfast plates; twelve side plates; twenty-four fish plates; twelve crescent shaped salad plates; two small octagonal butter dishes; a pair of oval butter dishes; three bowls; a pedestal bowl with knopped stem; three other comports; twelve two handled soup bowls and covers and twenty-three stands; eleven various serving plates in sizes; twenty-two various preserve dishes; a pair of vegetable tureens, covers and stands; three oval sauce tureens, covers and integral stands; a pair of sauce boats and stands; three small pedestal dishes; a pair of stem cups; six candlesticks; a match-strike; a trumpet vase; four other small oval section vases; four solifleur menu holders; twelve teacups and saucers; ten small coffee cups and twelve saucers; three further coffee cups and saucers; and a coffee pot and cover.

Neapolitan School Works

From other consignments we will also offer a collection of eight highly collectible 19^th century views of Italy in gouache. These include views of Capri and the bay of Naples. The finest pair in the collection depict eruptions of Mount Vesuvius in 1771 and 1779. These colourful and intense images flourished in Naples during the 19^th century to meet popular demand from wealthy grand tourists as souvenirs of the city. The collection of works was purchased by the present owner from The Parker Gallery, London.

Carved Beech and Parcel Painted Rocking Horse

Sure to brighten up any nursery is Lot 120. This carved beech and parcel painted rocking horse, probably dating from the 19th century, is modelled as a racehorse with legs outstretched. It is obviously designed for a young child as it stands diminutively at 55cm high.

William IV Bird's-Eye Maple Teapoy

By way of traditional furniture the sale includes pieces in the manner of the great cabinet making firms of the 19^th century Gillows and Holland & Sons, usually examples are seen in mahogany or rosewood but in this sale we have a number of items crafted in bird’s-eye maple.

This is a distinctive timber with a pleasant light colour with characteristic spotting and swirls throughout. Lot 74 is a William IV bird's-eye maple teapoy very much in the manner of examples by Gillows, the lid encloses a fitted interior with two central velvet lined recesses for mixing bowls and a pair of flanking lidded canisters, this is supported upon a lappet carved stem and quadripartite platform with concealed cups and castors. In Susan E. Stuart’s seminal work Gillows of Lancaster and London 1730-1840 Stuart remarks that teapoys were produced by the firm from 1814 and were frequently reproduced in estimate sketch books during the second quarter of the 19^th century.

Items for the Garden

The sale also includes a collection of 30 items for the garden, this part of the sale kicks off with a part croquet set by Wood Mallets, New Zealand, and comprising six mallets, stamped 3.00 and each with a rectangular head gilt stamped for the maker and The Croquet Association, five coloured balls, hoops, wicket, corner pegs, mallet, and a printed rule book – the mallets are competition standard and each are made to the exact specifications of World Champion player Joe Hogan, each with an overall weight of 3.00 lbs

Garden Furniture

There are also a good selection of garden benches and seats – from Regency examples through to ones of more recent manufacture – Lot 493 is a highlight - a stained wood garden furniture set in the style of designs by Heal's, late 20th century, comprising a table and four armchairs, a useful aspect of this set is when it is not in use the elements all fit together tidily to form a cube and therefore leave plenty of precious patio space.

AUCTION DETAILS
Wednesday 19 August | 10.30am
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

This is an online auction with auctioneer.

VIEWING:

• Our specialists will be providing detailed conditions reports and additional images as requested.
• Viewing will be by appointment and in accordance with Covid-19 regulations.
  
  Sunday 16 August: 10am-2pm
  Monday 17 August: 10am-5pm
  Tuesday 18 August: 10am-5pm
  There is no viewing on the day of the auction. 
  
  To book a viewing appointment: +44 (0) 1635 553 553 | info@dreweatts.com

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