The Age of Oak

‘The Age of Oak’, forming day 1 of our April auction, includes a number of interesting collections. The sale starts with The Howard Collection of Oak and Works of Art. Consigned from the Estate of Bruce and Margaret Howard. Leading the way is a rare and documented 16^th century oak clamp front coffer form the Black Mountains or Welsh border areas and that featured in volume I of Richard Bebb’s ‘Welsh Furniture 1250-1950’. Other furniture includes a small Charles II oak coffer with a finely carved front with scrolling leaves and flowers and a Charles II oak mule chest with a triple panel front. The works of art being offered range from a Nottingham alabaster Virgin and Child group to a huge carved figure of St Fiacre, a Charles II stumpwork picture of a hunting scene and a fine pair of Flemish oak and fruitwood bellows and a 17^th century and later Continental silver and tortoiseshell chalice. There is also a wide selection of metalware including a 15^th century French Gothic iron casket, a pair of 16^th century German bronze table fountain figures, an 18^th century brass six-light chandelier and a selection of brass candle holders and alms dishes. The collection also includes a selection of folk art and naïve furniture and works of art.

Elsewhere in the auction, we are delighted to be offering a rare metamorphic Charles II settle table, a rare pair of Huguenot wrought iron pricket candlesticks attributed to the workshop of Jean Tijou, unusually with a maker’s mark, an unusual mahogany Windsor chair attributed to Birch & Co. and a large 16^th century German ‘Stollentruhe’ chest.

The day concludes with the Carl Ricketts Collection of Pewter. The 130 lots on offer are all in very good condition and many have touch or maker’s marks, most of which have been identified. Highlights include an Irish church flagon probably by John Heaney, a late 17^th century two-band tavern mug, possibly from Chester, a Wigan-made high band mug and one and a half wine pint twin-band mug from either Wigan or Chester.

To view Furniture and Collections - Day Two 10th April 2025 click here:

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