Rupert van der Werff, head of the Billingshurst department, described bidding as selective but pointed out some outstanding individual results.
These included the £26,000 paid against an openly modest £1500-2500 estimate for an early 18th century mid European 3ft 4in (1m) high weathered white marble group of Hercules strangling the Nemean lion plus the pair of unusual French wrought iron reclining rocking chairs c.1900 which doubled hopes at £9500. At a sale
dominated by the furnishing public, both buyers were private.
Hercules’ rare show of strength in the garden
The lacklustre results posted at Sotheby’s (20/10% buyer’s premium) summer garden statuary sale were not bettered in early autumn, the September 23 catalogue seeing only 365 of the 666 lots sold.
