This late 19th or early 20th century dolls house above was purchased from Christie’s South Kensington’s sale of the property of the Duke of Bedford in 1976.
It is guided at £2000-3000 in Roseberys London’s Fine & Decorative sale on March 21 in West Norwood, London.
The six-room dolls house includes documentation and letters between a previous owner and the duke, who explains that he built a collection of dolls houses and games in order to amuse the younger visitors to the family seat at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire.
With the rise in value of his collection of Japanese porcelain, however, he used the cases reserved for the toys to house his porcelain instead. With the lack of space, the duke consigned the dolls houses to auction.
roseberys.co.uk or see this item on thesaleroom.com
An 19 x 23in (49 x 59cm) oil on canvas of oxen by Julian Trevelyan (1910-88) forms part of a collection of 20th century pictures from Hertfordshire County Council which will be sold at Cambridge saleroom Cheffins on March 21.
Oxen, which is inscribed Trevelyan 54 and is similar to another picture of the same title in the Tate in London, is estimated at £3000-5000.
The 428 pictures, from the council’s 1828-strong art collection, has been acquired over a number of years. The council began collecting in 1949 as part of what was called the School Loan Collection, a post-war initiative founded by Sir John Newsom, Hertfordshire’s chief education officer, to teach pupils across the county about art.
cheffins.co.uk or see this item on thesaleroom.com
An intricate quillwork diorama, c.1670, is among nearly 700 lots of art and antiques at North Yorkshire saleroom Tennants on March 23 in Leyburn.
Intricately worked in scrolls of coloured and gilded paper, the small scene depicts a castle flanked by two miniature portraits, possibly depicting King James II and his second wife Mary of Modena.
Quillwork, quilling or paper filigree was first seen in religious images made in French and Italian convents in the 16th century. The practice spread across Europe throughout the 17th century, becoming a favourite pastime for aristocratic ladies until the Regency period.
Estimate £3000-5000.
Leominster saleroom Brightwells will include a classic Thomas Sidney Cooper (1803-1902) oil in its Spring Fine Art Sale on March 20-21.
The picture, dated to c.1846, has been consigned to the auction house from a local deceased estate. It was purchased for £135 from the dealer Frost and Reed in Bristol in March 1914.
Estimate £3000-5000.
brightwells.com or see this item on thesaleroom.com
