Was the dealer – who paid five times the estimate – hoping to acquire the striking object for Olympia or Grosvenor House? “No” said
auctioneer Simon Chorley on June 5 (the opening day of the Olympia fair)
“definitely not – it’s still in storage here in Gloucestershire.”
This was lot number 2076 in a
mammoth sale of more than 2500 objects collected by Parry, the trustee of an offshore company, who began purchasing antiques at retail
establishments worldwide in the 1980s. When he died tragically in a walking accident in Vermont he was in the process of buying antiques on behalf of an investment trust who were the partial beneficiaries of the £800,000 taken over the five days.
19th century armorial figure of a greyhound
Among the highlights of the collection of the late John Stewart Parry sold by Bruton Knowles at the Tithe Barn, Southam from May 19-23 was this carved and painted wood armorial figure of a greyhound. Standing 211/2in (55cm) high and retaining its original paintwork, the 19th century piece received plenty of interest from the trade before it was knocked down to a London dealer for £3600 (plus 15% buyer’s premium).
