Inaugural Sale: January 25th new Prinknash Abbey Saleroom
LAUNCH OF NEW ART AND ANTIQUES AUCTION HOUSE
The New Year sees first sale at region's Newest & Finest Saleroom
Simon Chorley Art and Antiques holds its first auction at Prinknash on Thursday 25th January 2007 at 10.30am
Simon Chorley Art and Antiques Ltd, Gloucestershire’s youngest firm of auctioneers, launches its first sale at its new saleroom at Prinknash Abbey Park on Thursday 25th January 2007. Nestled in one of Gloucestershire’s most beautiful locations, the Prinknash Abbey estate lies on the edge of the Cotswolds, at roughly equal distance between Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud.
Formerly Bruton Knowles Art and Antiques, the business transferred to the new firm of Simon Chorley Art and Antiques in August 2006 and between three members of the team they can boast over 80 years of expertise.
“We have said goodbye to Southam Tithe Barn, a saleroom for more than 40 years, but are excited by the splendid facilities the new building has to offer,” says Simon Chorley, director of the new company. “Not only do we have the most recent high-tech equipment required to conduct auction sales in the current on-line market place, the in-house office has facilities for meeting clients, a large storage area, photographic studio and ample parking. The site has a restaurant and a shop as well as other attractions that continue to draw many people to Prinknash Abbey Park”.
The launch sale on Thursday 25th January includes a splendid array of paintings, clocks, silver, early 18th Century furniture and interesting porcelain and pottery. The contents of a house in Ampney Crucis provides a large quantity of lots for the sale including an Empire figural clock in bronze and ormolu . The clock is of Classical design with a fine bronze figure of Susannah and the Elders to the centre and is fitted with a movement striking on two bells by the eminent London clock maker Recordon. Standing 56cm (22in) high, it is expected to achieve between £2,500 and £3,500.
The furniture section of the catalogue has a number of good examples of early 18th Century walnut pieces, the pick of which, from a Cheltenham estate, is a fine George I walnut armchair with wing back and cushion scroll arms, raised on cabriole legs, carved C scrolls with pad feet. It will be sold against an estimate of between £6,000 and £8,000. A Queen Anne oak kneehole with eleven drawers, from the same estate, is expected to achieve between £2,000 and £3,000. Other furniture from the Ampney Crucis house should achieve similar prices.
In the silver section the sale features an interesting pair of late 18th century waiters by Matthew Boulton and John Fothergill, which were hallmarked through the Birmingham Assay Office in its very first year of operation in 1773. Other interesting lots include an oil painting by 19th century British artist Thomas Francis Wainwright, 1794-1883 (estimate £400-600), as well as many other interesting landscapes, seascapes, oils and watercolours. Among the more unusual items is a bronze snake, realistically cast by local artist Hamish Mackie, which brings a contemporary feel to the sale.
Public Viewing:
Monday, 22 January: 10am-4pm
Tuesday, 23 January: 10am-7pm
Wednesday, 24 January: 10am-4pm
Sale Day:Thursday, 25 January: sale commences at 10.30am live on-line
Prinknash Abbey is off the A46. Follow brown signs to Prinknash Abbey Park.
For further details please contact Simon Chorley at Prinknash on 01452 344499 or visit www.simonchorley.com for the catalogue and spinning images.
Press information and images are available from Iona Sale, IONA PR, 01451 832 268, 07721 030 825 or iona@ionapr.com