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March 2012 Fine Art and Antiques Preview Morphets are delighted to offer three of Vyse’s figures in the Spring Fine Art and Antique Catalogue sale on the 8th March which includes ‘ The Cinneraria Boy’, introduced in 1923 measuring 26.5cms, illustrated here, estimated at £2000-£2500, ‘Chrysanthemums’, introduced in 1926, of similar height, estimated at 1000-£1500 and Market Day Boulogne – Vegetables, introduced in 1930 and measuring 21.5cms, which is expected to realise £1500-£2000. Charles Vyse (1882-1971) was born in the Staffordshire pottery district, of old pottery stock, his family having been connected to the pottery industry for generations. In 1896 he was apprenticed to Doulton’s as a modeller and designer. H was awarded a National Scholarship at the Royal College of Art for Sculpture in 1905-7 and for 1907-1910 during which period he also won a Travelling Scholarship enabling him to study in Italy. |In 1911 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors having exhibited three works at the Royal Academy. Together with his wife, Nell Vyse, they set up a studio in Cheney Walk, Chelsea and began to produce figure subjects. They drew inspiration from the London streets, , Barnet Horse Fair and Epsom Racecourse, the markets and the East End all of which proved to be good hunting ground for their life studies of the street vendors, gypsies and circus folk. Nell’s knowledge of chemistry and Charles’s skill in modelling combined to produce a series of these highly detailed figures and groups, with a trade- mark richness of colour and tone in the painting and wood ash glaze that singles out their work to this day. The figures were produced in low numbers which accounts for their relative rarity nearly a hundred years on.
June 2011 Fine Art and Antiques Preview Miechowski Family Silver Collection Lots 388 - 414 Contained in this sale is The Collection of late 19th and early 20th Century German and Central European 8000 quality silver tableware from the Miechowski Family The collection was owned by the Miechowski family who lived at Mateuszek, East Prussia. During the second World War the family's fortunes changed dramatically when they were forced to flee their estates. The silver was dispersed or buried in the grounds of the family home. In 1963 the silver was dug up and enjoyed once again by the family. The younger generation have decided to offer the items for auction due to changing lifestyles. Their Introduction: When buying pieces of silver at auction one is usually left to find out what it is, where it came from and perhaps wonder why the owner is selling it. As the owners of these pieces, we thought it might help the new owner if we answer a few of the above. The silver is a reminder of our past and of a bygone era when these pieces were in daily use, they originally belonged to our paternal grandfather who was a landed gentleman farmer and lived in Northern Prussia, his son, our father, had a governess and private teachers not only because they could afford it but also because of the remoteness of their farm, it was almost as I they lived in a separate world, everybody in the area worked for them and in return my grandfather was responsible for their every need. (almost Feudal). He was by all accounts a wise and generous man and lived in opulent splendour! At the outbreak of war in Europe it was decided to hide their valuables in all manner of places and with various employees and friends, and despite the chaos and the total splitting up of his family and the loss of his land and home, the silver remained in it's Various hiding places until well after 1945. Our Grandfather and then my Father and his sister set about retrieving their hidden possessions and gradually managed to get them all back! Our father came to this country in 1945 s a displaced person and like many of his countrymen found a life and happiness working on the land in Lincolnshire. Never bitter about what night have been, he never the less set about gathering the silver and keeping it in the lofts of the tied cottages he lived in over the years. The last of the silver was retrieved in 1963 when I as his eldest son, was taken for the fist and only time to meet my very old grandfather. We an guess that on farm labourers wages this was not a light undertaking but the end result was worth it, as at the tender age of seven I was woken in the dead of night and was taken by torch light into a nearby forest, where I witnessed the amazing sight of my father digging at a spot, pointed out by some of my grandfather’s old employees, to dig up the buried silver, a secret they had kept through the intervening years and, despite their own hardships and poverty, through loyalty to my grandfather. Some of the silver was part of our daily lives as we grew up, our mother lovingly polishing it, and some was presented to my sisters and I, on auspicious occasions, birthdays, weddings etc. some of which we will keep in our families, some of the silver (small items) were given to those kept the secret of it’s whereabouts, and the rest is now offered for sale because of our ever increasing worries about keeping such beautiful and valuable items safe in our own lofts! Generally the silver is continental (800) was made specifically for our family or purchased by our grandfather who then added the monogram’s reflecting his, his wife’s and children’s initials. Please love and cherish the items you now own, as our family have. As you have learnt, they came through some hard times but always bring a smile to the faces of those who gaze at their beauty.
Captain S P Jorgenson Also contained in this sale are works of art collected over many years in China by one time Shanghai Pilot, Captain S P Jorgenson, Knight of the Danish Flag and Chairman of the Mercantile Marine Officer’s Association between 1905 (when he was appointed Superintendent of the Whampoo Conservancy) until the end of World War II and the Chinese Civil War. As well as manning numerous ships, in 1925 he planned and carried out major improvements in the Harbour. He was an accomplished artist and collector of Chinese works of art. He subsequently passed these on to his family in England, who are now offering them within this sale. August 1969 Letter written by Captain Jorgenson to his daughter Anne: Dear Anne
You want to know something about me in China. Well, there is no place to start like the beginning.
I was born in Shanghai at the General Hospital. Shortly afterwards I was taken out to Woosung where mother and father had a bungalow, he being, at that time, the Chief Works Superintendent for the Whampoo Conservancy. When I was about a month old, the Wanchu Rebellion erupted around Woosung, and the old war junks of the Wanchus were destroyed. We were actually under fire and, although I do not remember this, mother was loading rifles for dad to shoot, while they had put me in the cleft between the chimney and the roof. However, after a couple of days we were all rescued by the brother of the famous German General, von Ludendorf, who later, on the outbreak of the First World War, went into the interior of China and did very good work for the Sunyatsen Government. The silver peanut dish (or ash tray) which we have at home is made out of a Sunyatsen dollar, and this was given to my father for the work he did in helping the then so-called rebels, i.e., Sunyatsen’s party.
Well, we moved from Woosung nearer to Shanghai, to a place which now is an industrial area, but which was then parkland, namely, Macgregor Road, on the way to Wayside, down Yang-tse-poo.
Really my first memories of China are from here, and there was nothing I used to enjoy more than to go in the carriage with Amah and Wafoo for a drive our to a village near Point Island. I cannot remember the name of it, but this is where Amah’s people lived, and I have shared many a bowl of rice with them.
I was at various schools in Shanghai: the Convent, and the Cathedral School and the Public School at Hongkew. Childhood memories are of the Bund; the sampans on Soochow Creek which used to bring all the produce into Shanghai from up-country; the steamers on the Whampoo; trips out to Jessfield Park and Hungjuao, there was quite a wonderful pagoda; also a Catholic Convent. The whole area now has been turned into an airfield.
Later, I went to school at Kuling, which is up the river Yangtse as far as Kiukiang, where we stayed at a Chinese inn before going in a motor car which today would only be seen in a veteran rally – as far as the foothills when the road, such as it was, ended, and those who were not going to walk up the mountain would get into chairs carried by 4 coolies, depending of course on their weight! From the foothills up to the Gap was 7,000 feet and, although it was not vertical, it seemed nearly vertical. The path, in some places only 3 feet wide, twisted and turned along the side of the mountain until you came to what I have referred to as ‘the Gap’. This was a pass in which the community of Kuling lived. The highest peaks were nearly 14,000 feet, and one famous one called the Lion’s Leap, overlooked Pohang Lake which, although it was 40 miles away, looked to be just at the bottom of the mountain.
Time is short so I cannot say too much about my time up in Kuling. And I have not got a chance of sending you some of the photographs so that you would receive them by Friday.
After a couple of years’ commuting between between Shanghai and Kuling, I came home to England and went to Trent College; and I did not see China again for ten years – in 1935, when I approached China from a very different angle. I came in on the Trans-Siberian Railway, through Chita and Wanchouli. It was here that the eastern edge of what is virtually the Gobi Desert, that we had a train smash. At that time, the railways were controlled by the Japanese. The temperature was something like 60 below zero and I can remember that I pulled the skin off the palm of one hand after the train smash while I was trying to get out of the carriage. This was because my hand stuck to the metal of the coach. We got to Harbin; then I was in Muckden, then Darin where I contracted rheumatic fever. However, I was treated well and put on a ship which took me to Shanghai. I had a very bad time of it in Shanghai with rheumatic fever, and I can remember from my room in the Pouloon Hospital in Shanghai watching the fire crackers and festivities for the Chinese New Year in 1936. From my window I could look over the race course to Bubbling Well Road and, in the other direction, to all the lights at the end of Nanking Road.
During 1936 I carried out various commissions, such as taking a convoy of double-decker buses from Shanghai to Nanking; driving a car from Shanghai to Hanchow and then on to Mokanchan. Of course, we could not take it up the mountain; we had to walk. It was here that I had a long talk to a very old Holy Man who told me a lot about myself and, although he did not give precise dates for anything, did predict certain events which later took place. He was, virtually, a hermit. He spoke fluent English; had been to Oxford and obtained to the best of my knowledge, several doctorates both in England and on the Continent. Besides speaking English fluently, he could do the same in both French and German, and, although I found him as a virtual hermit in a small cell-cum-cave on a mountain path, looking half starved – which I think he was – and not altogether too clean as far as his apparel was concerned, I do not suppose I have ever met a more interesting person in all my life. He was truly remarkable.
I am only now touching on events which took place, but I travelled up and down the coast of China for a while, going as far north as Chingwantao and as far south as Canton, at the same time going up the Yangtse as far as Hankow, or a little above Hankow, where I saw the famous Gorges. I always wish that I had been able to go through them up to Chungking, but I never managed it.
Honkong I have visited, and Kowloon and Haoao; but these are not China. The real China, that was always friendly except when a war lord happened to be about or there were bandits around, is the one I prefer to remember, which is mostly concerned with a few very civilised, hard working and honest people who willingly and always made one welcome.
My love to you, dear
March 2011 Fine Art and Antiques Sale Report Over the last twelve months salerooms up and down the country have benefited from a booming economy; no, not the UK’s, but China’s. Chinese ceramics and works of art have seen soaring prices driven by a seemingly insatiable desire to acquire. Many items which in previous times would have made a reasonable amount commensurate with their quality and rarity now realise far in excess of what would have been seen as the market value, making a nonsense of the auction estimate.
A board room table nearly five metres long and fifteen leather chairs, originally commissioned for the Birmingham branch of the Bank of England and then moved to the Leeds branch before it was later sold off during a refit, came under the hammer and realised a collective £2600.
The Summer Fine Art, Antiques and Fine Wine Catalogue Sale is to be held on 9th June and entries are invited now and until the deadline 14th May (7th for wines) "The biggest and most important sale of posters that has ever been held..." Dr. Richard Furness, railway historian and author The Malcolm Guest Railway Collection The first part of the collection came under the hammer in a two-day sale on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th January. The sale included 580 lots of vintage railway posters followed by original artwork for posters and printed matter, railway collectors items, GWR and other regional archives, books and ephemera. A leading expert in vintage posters has said that he believed the sale to be the largest and most important collection of posters to have ever come on the market. Part I of the collection created a huge amount of interest with coverage by the television, radio and newspapers. Collectors travelled from all parts of the UK in atrocioius weather conditions to view and attend the sale. A bank of seven telephone bidding clerks fielded in excess of 500 telephone bids over the two days, with one buyer in New York bidding on 170 lots over a duration of eight and a half hours. An unprecedented number of commission bids were logged and the live bidding on the internet was virtually constant throughout the sale with over 100 active bidders at any one time. The sale realised £410,000 Part II of the collection was offered in the Spring Fine Art and Antique Catalogue sale held on 4th March and will included a work by David Shepherd, oil on canvas, 61 x 91 illustrated here sold for £23,000
A parcel wrapped in brown paper and string, stored amongst the railway items, when opened revealed the most amazing find - the original artwork by William Heath Robinson for GWR's centenary publication Railway Ribaldry 1935, comprising eighty three pen and ink drawings.
These iconic works in 83 lots sold for a total of £145,000 The remaining posters, approximately two thousand, mainly dating from the 1960s and 1970s, will come up for auction later in the year. For the story behind the collection please click here
Live Bidding for catalogue sales Morphets introduced live bidding on the internet to their quarterly catalogue sales in 2007 and have seen bidding on the internet grow sale on sale. The first UK live video link was trialled successfully at Morphets’ March catalogue auction allowing bidders world wide to both hear and see the auctioneer in real time and to bid from their computers. This proved to be particularly popular when a private collection of Chinese ceramics and works of art came under the hammer on behalf of a local deceased estate. Virtually every lot saw bidding on the internet, with many of the top bids from mainland China, from Europe. To register for Live Bidding please visit www.the-saleroom.com. Please note that any bids made through the-saleroom will attract an additional 3% plus VAT Buyers Premium.
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At Morphets, the Harrogate auctioneers’ Spring Fine Art and Antique Catalogue sale on the 3rd of this month, the Chinese buyers were much in evidence not only on all available telephone lines and the internet, but also present in the room. The room gasped when a Chinese gentleman increased the bidding on a bronze gold-splash two handled censer from a bid of £160, to £5000 in one jump and then moments later ignored the auctioneer letting it go at £6500 to a rival countryman in a display of nonchalance he then seemed to regret. The same gentleman was the successful bidder for a porcelain bowl, shaped rather like a dog bowl, but superbly painted with fish and crabs amongst aquatic grasses and to the exterior with two jays in a garden setting, which although cracked took a final bid of £13,500 against a telephone bidder in China. Another notably high price was paid for a carved hardwood libation cup at £4,200 of a type which would normally realise up to around £400.
Antiques and paintings from a Richmondshire Hall, sold extremely well. One of two 18th century leather draught screens painted with a chinoiserie scene sold for £5,100 despite damage to the six panels. A set of four oils on panel equestrian studies of hunters, by Franics Mabel Hollams (1877-1963) were found in the attic where they had lain for at least fifty years, sold at £5,800. A pair of Wedgwood Jasperware two handled vases and covers dating from the late 18th century realised £1,600 taking into account some damage. Amongst fishing tackle an Alcocks ‘Aerial’ 4 ½” salmon reel sold well over estimate at £850.
A selection of books from the Hall’s library sold well with top price going to The Life of Admiral Lord Nelson in two volumes by Clarke and M’Arthur 1809 at £2000. Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language in 2 vols went to an American buyer at £650; Hawthorne’s Wonder Book illustrated by Arthur Rackham sold well at £450 and an official guide to Japan 1933 and to China 1924 published by the Japanese Government Railways soared over estimate at £800 followed by £850 for a Map of Egypt 1882 in four parts mounted on linen and in a slipcase.
Furniture prices were good. An 18th century parquetry work table, illustrated here, realised £1800, a pair of Regency hall chairs in the manner of Richard Bridgens sold for £1600 and a walnut kneehole desk also sold at £1600.
Furniture from the workshop of Thompson of Kilburn remains a strong seller. A stool of typical form sold at £425, an ottoman finished at £900, a corner cupboard at £600, a small dining table not in the best of condition sold at £550, a side table at £650, a set of four lattice back chairs at £1350 and a sideboard at £2600.
Furniture and art in the bi-annual specialist section for 20th century design drew interest from London and the South. A Scandia Senior swivel chair in rosewood by Hans Brattrud for Hove Mobler, found in a Dales house up above Grassington, sold at £1300 and a set of six stacking stools by Alvar Aalto from the same house sold at £575.
A Damien Hirst limited edition colour print entitled Valium, signed and numbered realised £4200 and two examples of local artist Simon Palmer’s work in watercolour and gouache sold at £2,300 and £2,200.
The final section of the auction was a collection of around 150 lots of costume and jewellery by the fashion designer Jean Muir which attracted a good deal of interest and realised approximately £8000 in total.
SALE REPORTS
