Furniture

Bidders were out in force at a recent sale in North Carolina for a collection of 136 lots consigned from the estate of the late Robert K Johnson, a finance and telecommunications executive.

In a sale that yielded quality and surprises in most sections, the major talking points at Stride & Son (18% buyer’s premium) were provided by two pieces of furniture. Emerging from the same house and given here-to-sell estimates, both achieved five-figure results.

Despite having no maker’s mark, the design and quality of this c.1930 oak reclining book table armchair, below, proclaimed Ambrose Heal.

Dunhill Aquarium table lighters painted by Margaret Bennett and husband Alan in the 1950s-60s remain popular among collectors in these non-smoking days.

On a day when furniture and antiques proved to be particularly popular, the surprise star of Fellows’ (23% buyer’s premium) 740-lot online sale was an Italian 19th century pier mirror.

Until its sale last year, Newbold Pacey Hall had been the seat of the Little family since the house was built by William Little in c.1780-90.

In his book 'Oriental Rugs' (1998), textiles scholar Murray Eiland Jr lamented the challenges in dating and identifying carpets woven in south-east India.

A recent Reeman Dansie sale in Colchester included 80 pieces from the estate of the well-known dealer Jane Sumner, who died last September at the age of 82.

Although now known as Gainsborough chairs, generous walnut and upholstered armchairs were often referred to by contemporaries as ‘French’ chairs, as the most elaborate styles were based on French rococo.

The Gros & Delettrez (30% buyer’s premium) auction of Art Deco held in Paris on January 22 offered works from the collection of a gallery owner.

Colchester auction house Reeman Dansie follows a policy of detailed cataloguing for Chinese art but modest estimates

Clive Rogers, senior partner at Clive Rogers Oriental Rugs, specialises in antique Oriental and Occidental carpets and textiles from his base in Stroud, Gloucestershire. He is currently exhibiting at LARTA Virtual 2021 (until February 14).

Although catalogued as ‘a 19th century Japanese woodblock print’, the signature to a scene of a boat with Mount Fuji beyond gave a clue to its creator.

American pieces understandably dominated the Rago (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) early 20th century Design sale in Lambertville, New Jersey, on January 21.

This mahogany and parcel gilt four-fold English screen featured at Doyle (26/21/15% buyer’s premium) in New York on January 21.

Despite lockdown restrictions Bonhams' traditional Oak Interior offerings performed very well

Two of the choice pieces of furniture in Bonhams’ Oak Interiors sale on January 20-21 were published examples.