Sworders

Sworders are an auction house based in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. They have a history dating back to 1782 when their Bishop’s Stortford-based forerunner started out in agriculture and property sales.

In 2008 Sworders moved to new purpose-built auction rooms and they also maintain a valuation office in Hertford.

The firm stages regular sales of antiques and collectables as well as other specialist events including dedicated modern art and design auctions and quarterly Country House sales.


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Artworks offered in Essex auction mix history and fantasy

09 October 2017

A nude painting by the 19th century English artist William Etty (1787-1849) starred in Sworders’ (22% buyer’s premium) sale in Essex. The 2ft 2in x 19in (66 x 49cm) oil on panel shows a naked woman in a wooded landscape, her head and body turned away from the viewer.

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Mughal court miniature at Sworders

27 September 2017

This 17th century Indian painting attributed to one of the finest artists of the Mughal court was recently discovered in a private collection in Suffolk. Sworders will offer it for sale in their December 5 Country House Sale with an estimate of £10,000-15,000.

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Sworders offers Bakelite bangles

11 September 2017

Jewellery designers of the 1930s and '40s were attracted to Bakelite, a plastic resin developed in 1907 for industrial purposes, as it was both hard enough to cut and polish and available in a wide range of colours.

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An 18th century stoneware jug takes 40 times top estimate at Sworders

21 August 2017

The surprise package of Sworders’ (22% buyer’s premium) Homes and Interiors sale of August 1 was an early buff stoneware jug of a type commonly associated with the potteries of Fulham and Vauxhall.

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Chocks away for Biggles author watercolours in Essex auction

24 July 2017

A scarce collection of watercolours by Biggles creator WE Johns (1893-1968) sold beyond expectations in Sworders’ (22% buyer’s premium) June 27 sale in Stansted Mountfitchet.

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Pick of the Week: Riding the £23,000 Brompton omnibus

03 July 2017

A highlight of Sworders’ Country House sale in Stansted Mountfitchet on June 27 was a rare tinplate London omnibus.

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Jewellery auction previews

03 July 2017

A selection of stand-out jewellery lots from regional auctions.

Jiaqing

Imperfect Jiaqing vase surpasses expectations to lead Sworders’ Asian art sale

15 May 2017

A Chinese Jiaqing (1795-1820) vase led Sworders’ recent Asian art sale with a five-figure result despite imperfect condition.

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Mark Wilkinson joins Stansted firm

18 April 2017

Former Bonhams and Christie’s specialist Mark Wilkinson is to join Sworders to launch new specialist sales at the Essex auction house. Wilkinson spent over 30 years at Christie’s and led its ‘interiors’ auctions at South Kensington.

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Sworders ready for Christie’s veteran to make his mark

18 April 2017

Pinball machines, Francis Bacon paintbrushes and bear skeletons: is Essex ready for an Out of the Ordinary sale? Sworders managing director Guy Schooling believes so. He has just hired former Bonhams and Christie’s specialist Mark Wilkinson to launch a series of specialist sales at the Stansted Mountfitchet auction house.

The IS silver porringer

Rare Irish silver porringer sold for five times estimate at Sworders’ auction

30 November 2016

A rare and recently rediscovered Irish Commonwealth/Charles II silver porringer sold today for £25,000 – five times its estimate – at Sworders’ auction in Essex.

Chinese imperial doucai jar

UK regional salerooms share spoils in strong series of Asian art auctions

17 November 2016

The UK’s regional salerooms turned up a series of six-figure objects during the first of two weeks of designated Asian art sales.

The IS silver porringer

Sworders to offer rediscovered silver rarity

10 November 2016

Only a handful of pieces of Irish secular silver are known to survive from before the Restoration.

Porcelain from Hugh Marsham Townshend collection

Sworders to offer ‘toys’ from Hugh Marsham Townshend collection

24 August 2016

When in the middle of the century Suffolk collector Hugh Marsham Townshend (1878-1967) was amassing a collection of gold-mounted porcelain scent bottles and other trinkets, most were thought to be the products of the Chelsea porcelain works or a shadowy enterprise known as the ‘Girl in a Swing’ factory.

Hermès Birkin 35

Hermès and Chanel modern classic handbags in demand at designer auctions

29 July 2016

Fellows’ second Designer Collection sale fetched over £100,000. With a Hermès Birkin 35 taking the top spot, it seems the current trend for classic fashions and accessories at auction is here to stay.

silver gilt teaset at sworders

Echoes of William Beckford as silver-gilt teaset triples estimate at Stansted sale

05 July 2016

Among the works sold over estimate at today’s silver and jewellery auction at Sworders in Stansted Mountfitchet was a rare silver-gilt three-piece teaset that tripled expectations when it was knocked down at £4100.

Cedric Morris still life

Cedric Morris blossoms in the saleroom with two auction records set in 48 hours

15 April 2016

In the space of just 48 hours, two paintings by the self-taught Welsh artist and horticulturalist Cedric Morris (1889-1982) raised the auction bar for his work to a new level.

Eric Ravilious watercolour at Sworders

Ravilious watercolour makes £85,000 at Sworders

13 April 2016

A watercolour by Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) drew serious bidding at Sworders this week, overtaking a £40,000-60,000 estimate before it was knocked down at £85,000.

Eric Ravilious watercolour at Sworders

Ravilious watercolour leads Sworders’ dedicated Modern British art auction

24 March 2016

An Eric Ravilious (1903-42) watercolour has emerged at Sworders of Essex and will be among the star lots at their first dedicated Modern British Art sale next month.

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