On Saturday 23 June 2019 at Bedale Hall, auctioneers Elstob & Elstob are hosting a sale of nearly 1,000 lots, comprising period furniture, clocks, paintings and silver from the Scarborough home of the late Denis Chapman. Other notable collections in the auction include paintings from a London property, fine jewellery form two Yorkshire collections, a single-owner collection of drinking glasses, and wine from a local collector.
So, bottoms up! Let’s dive in and take a look.
If you're thirsty, and consider yourself a connoisseur of certain liquors, this 50cl 'rare breed baijiu' bottle of Kweichow Moutai should hold up – the bottle is an exceptionally rare and almost impossible to find twenty-year-old special release from 2011.
With this ring, a square mixed-cut emerald is set within a surround of eight slightly graduating old brilliant-cut diamonds, all set between two square mixed-cut emeralds to each shoulder in an open work mount on a plain band. The ring is size M and weighs 3.5 grams.
If you prefer your jewellery worn on your lapel rather than your finger, this exquisite aquamarine and diamond brooch might take your fancy. The large, triangular fancy-cut aquamarine is set within a surround of brilliant-cut diamond highlights, in turn within a symmetrical surround of elaborate coiled, floral and foliage details, set throughout with graduating brilliant-cut diamonds, all on a brooch pin fitting and fitted within a George Pragnell case. It measures 4 cm in length and 4.5 cm wide and weighs 20.7 grams.
This set of 12 George III silver hunt-buttons are by John Robins of London from c. 1800. Each button is circular and engraved with a fox mask, the back with a loop, and contained in a later red leather case labelled ‘Parkes 12 Vigo Street’.
Bearing a James H. Starkey Galleries label on the reverse, this framed oil on canvas, measuring 39.5 by 59.5 cm, is of Velsheda Beating to Windward by John Steven Dews (b. 1949).
John Steven Dews is an acclaimed maritime artist. Here he has depicted the J-class yacht Velsheda, which was designed by Charles Ernest Nicholson and built in 1933 by Camper and Nicholsons at Gosport, Hampshire. The boat was built specifically for businessman William Lawrence Stephenson, and, between 1933 and 1936, won many races and competed with other prominent yachts, such as Britannia, Endeavour and Shamrock V.
This 118 cm high, 89 cm wide and 39 cm deep, 19th-century gilt-metal mounted ebonised cabinet features a stunning pietra dura (a pictorial mosaic work using semi-precious stones). The breakfront top with egg and foliate cast are mounted over a frieze centred by a crest of musical putti, flanked by a pair of squared flowerheads over caryatid mounts. These flank a door applied with a ribbon-tied floral bouquet with bird and insect within an oval panel with a ribbon-tied crest with a further square frame. This features scrolling acanthus corners, the plinth base with reel and bellflower mount, raised on turned feet.
Like what you see? There’s plenty more to be discovered within Elstob & Elstob’s catalogue. Get in before 23 June!
Explore all lots available in the auction here
Cover image: Photo by Tom Quandt on Unsplash