The illustrious collection of Katrina Hickox Becker, an accomplished equestrienne and New York heiress, is brimming with over 500 lots of rediscovered masterpieces, from royally-owned furniture to custom-made Van Cleef & Arpels jewellery. Charlton Hall will auction the estate on 16 October in the US' South Carolina. Here are is a sample of the top highlights.
This important Sheraton-style carved and inlaid mahogany secretary bookcase dates to 1794-95. It is decorated with a finely-carved crown with leaves, drapery, tassels and other ornaments, over divided glazed-panel doors centring mirror panels. The lower part has a frieze containing a secret writing drawer fitted with covered compartments and mechanical writing surface. The Sheraton style was invented by Thomas Sheraton, who was inspired by Louis XVI aesthetic, and was very popular in both England and the US.
Also from the last quarter of the 18th century comes this pair of George III carved giltwood and scagliola marble demilune consoles. They are topped by D-shape Carrara marble top inlaid with wreaths centring floral sprays and profile busts, on a fluted skirt with swag decorations, supported on figural cabriole legs with square feet.
Once at the Long Gallery at Bramshill, a famed Jacobean mansion in Hampshire, was this pair of George II carved mahogany armchairs covered in Soho tapestry from c. 1755. Owned by Sir Monnoux Cope, 7th Bart of Hanwell and Bramshill, these chairs were designed in the Chinese Chippendale design with a serpentine crest-rail, pierced geometric and X-carved splats, conforming armrests, over-upholstered seat and reeded square legs.
A royally-owned object is this French Empire silver-gilt soupière, from the Borghese service by Martin-Guillaume Biennais Paris in 1798-1819, after a design by Percier and Fontaine. It is decorated with the arms of Borghese for Prince Camillo and Pauline Borghese, as engraved on the cover and tureen. Prince Camillo Borghese married Pauline Bonaparte, the sister of the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, on 6 November 1803.
Flemish master Sebastiaen Vrancx (1573-1647) is behind this monumental painting The Forger, which is part of a series of three other works including The Fish Market, The Bird Market and The Fruit & Flower Market. The oil on canvas is characteristic of his genre work and depicts a metal forger working at his craft in the middle of a town square. Vrancx was known for his highly detailed and elegant background work, as typified here.
The highlight of Mrs. Becker's jewellery collection within the auction is this magnificent custom Van Cleef & Arpels emerald and diamond brooch. It centres on a very fine square-cut Colombian deep green emerald of approx. 3 carats, accented by eight 1-carat well-matched emeralds, all surrounded by 30 carats worth of diamonds.
Don't miss exploring this treasure chest of curated artworks and antiques on 16 October at Charlton Hall.
