The Escape, an allegorical scene of a young girl with a bird cage by Elizabeth Emma Soyer, estimate £12,000-18,000 at Christie’s.
The Old Master Part II sale at Christie’s on July 7 includes this oil by Elizabeth Emma Soyer (1813-42). Born in London in 1813 as Elizabeth Emma Jones, she became the sole pupil of the Belgian painter (and later her stepfather) François Simonau (1783-1859).
She married the celebrated French chef, writer and inventor Alexis Soyer (1810-58) who, around the time this picture was painted in 1836, had been appointed head chef of the recently founded Reform Club in Pall Mall. Emma’s portrait of her husband, shown holding a raised fork with one of his famous lamb cutlets, hangs at the club. Emma died at their home near Charing Cross following complications with a pregnancy,
The Escape, an allegorical scene of a young girl with a bird cage, was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1837 and formed part of the artist’s estate sale at Christie’s in 1859. More recently it was bought for €4000 at a sale in Brussels in 2021. It is now guided at £12,000-18,000.
An 18th century black glass onion bottle with the arms of the Carew family, estimate £300-500 at Clarks Auction Rooms.
The three lions to the seal of this 18th century black glass onion are the arms of the Carew family of the Manor of Haccombe, Newton Abbot. The 5½in (14cm) bottle is expected to sell for £300-500 at Clarks Auction Rooms in Liskeard, Cornwall, on June 29.
A 1957 travel poster titled The Rebirth of Coventry Cathedral, estimate £120-240 at Antikbar.
This 1957 travel poster titled The Rebirth of Coventry Cathedral features an illustration by Sir Basil Spence depicting the Cathedral Church of St Michael with its grand design for the porch. At London poster specialist Antikbar on July 8 it is expected to bring £120-240.
Work on Spence’s radical design for the bomb-damaged cathedral had begun in 1956 with the structure not completed until 1962. Spence was knighted for his work.
Pair of Kangxi blue and white soldier vases on later giltwood stands, estimate £100,000-150,000 at Alastair Gibson Auctions.
The term ‘Soldier’ or ‘dragooner’ vase was adopted in the early 18th century to describe monumental vases of the type traded by Frederick Augustus I (1670-1733) elector of Saxony and avid porcelain collector, in return for a regiment of cavalry.
The splendid pair of Kangxi blue and white soldier vases is on later giltwood stands among the highlights of the Asian art sale at Alastair Gibson Auction in Bermondsey on July 5. Standing 3ft 8in (1.12m) high, they are boldly painted with four circular panels of court ladies at leisure on pavilion terraces playing a Qin or looking at a scroll painting.
They have an estimate of £100,000-150,000.
A 19th century primitive oak or elm dug-out chair, estimate £2000-3000 at Woolley & Wallis.
This 19th century primitive oak or elm dug-out chair with an adzed back and a solid seat has a guide of £2000-3000 at the sale of Furniture, Works of Art & Clocks at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury on July 5-6.
A 3ft 10in (1.15m) high pottery figure titled Ivy made for the 1951 Festival of Britain, estimate £2000-4000 at Potteries Auctions.
This monumental 3ft 10in (1.15m) high pottery figure titled Ivy was made for the 1951 Festival of Britain exhibition.
Based on a concept created by Colonel Sir George Wade (1891-1986), former chairman of the Wade pottery group, and the Potteries entrepreneur Harold Taylor Robinson (1877-1953), it was designed by Colin Melbourne (1928-2009).
The figure comes for sale at Potteries Auctions in Stoke-on- Trent on July 5-8 with a guide of £2000-4000.
Russian carved wood presentation platter, estimate £5000-8000 at Moore Allen & Innocent.
This Russian carved wood presentation platter is returning to auction at Moore Allen & Innocent.
As reported in ATG No 2594, the ceremonial bread dish had been ‘sold’ in May but the online buyer failed to complete the purchase. The plate will be reoffered in Cirencester on July 5-6. Senior auctioneer Philip Allwood said there was no question marks regarding the authenticity of the dish that has an estimate of £5000-8000.
Made for the presentation of bread and salt to Nicholas II, it is carved with the imperial double-headed eagle and set with silver gilt folkloric roundels and the enamelled coat of arms of the city of Tula. The inscription references ‘the loyal peasants of Tula’ and the date November 21, 1914.
Spanish Dancers, 1927, by Philip Alexius de László, estimate £15,000-20,000 at Roseberys.
Roseberys’ July 19 Old Masters sale in south London includes this oil on board by Philip Alexius de László (1869-1937). Spanish Dancers, signed and dated 1927, is guided at £15,000-20,000.
Unrecorded Arthur Rackham watercolour probably intended as an illustration to John Ruskin’s King of the Golden River that was re-published in 1932, estimate £15,000-25,000 at Christie’s.
This unrecorded Arthur Rackham watercolour was probably intended as an illustration to John Ruskin’s King of the Golden River that was re-published in 1932. This text, originally written in 1841 for Effie Gray, is a fairy tale illustrating the triumph of love, kindness, and goodness over evil.
This 14 x 12in (35 x 30cm) illustration titled The Music of the Stream was part of an exhibition of works by Rackham held at Leicester Galleries in London in 1935. It comes for sale at Christie’s as part of the July 13 sale of British and European Art with a guide of £15,000-25,000.
Pair of Kangxi period wucai ‘phoenix’ jars, estimate £3000-5000 at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood.
The sale at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood in Exeter on July 11-12 includes this pair of Kangxi period wucai ‘phoenix’ jars. Standing 14in (35cm) high with hardwood stands and covers, they have a guide of £3000-5000.
A 5ft 6in (1.68m) sign for Hall’s Distemper, estimate £300-500 at Truro Auction Centre.
A sale of enamel signs and advertising memorabilia at Truro Auction Centre in Redruth, Cornwall, on July 6 includes this 5ft 6in (1.68m) sign for Hall’s Distemper – The Oil- Bound Water Paint by Sissons Brothers of Hull. Estimate £300-500.
Chalcedony, sapphire and diamond flower brooch by Suzanne Belperron, estimate £5000-7000 at Tennants.
This chalcedony, sapphire and diamond flower brooch by Suzanne Belperron (1900-83) is included in Tennants’ Fine Jewellery, Watches and Silver sale on July 15 with an estimate of £5000-7000.
The brooch is the property of a lady who was given it on her wedding day in 1952 by the Italian noblewoman Marchesa Maria Nunziate di Mignano.
Belperron began her career in jewellery design in 1919 at the House of René Boivin, the famed Parisian jewellers, before leaving to become the chief designer at Bernard Herz in 1932.
After Herz’s death she took over the company, renaming it Herz-Belperron.
A Richards Taxiphote stereo viewer, complete with several unique sets of 3D images on glass plates, estimate £200-300 at Chiswick Auctions.
Consigned from the collection of an ex-Stereoscopic Society member, Chiswick Auctions will be offering a Richards Taxiphote stereo viewer, complete with several unique sets of 3D images on glass plates.
The stand-out selection records the first ‘International Aviation Meeting’ in Great Britain, held from July 11-16, 1910. It was then only the fourth air show ever to be held in this country. A new aerodrome had been built on the outskirts of Bournemouth for the occasion and, thanks to the large cash prizes on offer, it attracted many famous aviators of the time, including Morane, Drexel and others.
Although Louis Blériot was not present at this event one of his aircraft raced and he was represented at the meeting by his wife, Alice, who can be seen in several of the images.
A Richards Taxiphote stereo viewer, complete with several unique sets of 3D images on glass plates, estimate £200-300 at Chiswick Auctions.
Other aircraft taking part included a Wright Flyer (built by Short Brothers under licence) and flown by Charles Rolls, co-founder of Rolls-Royce. Rolls was such an enthusiastic aviator he gave up his partnership with Royce to concentrate on flying. Sadly, after winning the £100 prize for the slowest lap of the circuit at the event, Rolls was killed in what was then the first aviation fatality in the UK. He was just 32 years old.
Several of the images from the aviation meeting show Sir Thomas Lipton and the newly formed ‘Aerial League of the British Empire’.
Estimate in the July 5 Photographica sale is £200-300.
