Fine Art & Antiques and Asian Works of Art Wednesday November 7th 2012, commencing at 11 a.M.
Viewing Times: Saturday 3rd November 10 am - 5pm, Monday 5th November 9.30am - 6.30pm, Tuesday 6th November 9.30am - 6.30pm, Wednesday 7th November from 9am
Catalogue now available to view online
Live online bidding available via the-saleroom.com
Wednesday 7th November 2012 will see Boningtons Auctioneers hold its eagerly awaited winter sale of Fine Art and Antiques.The auction, commencing at 11 a.m., coincides with Asian Art week in London and, indeed, includes a significant selection of Oriental works of art which are likely to be of interest to both the national market and the many international collectors that flock to London for one of the capital’s most prestigious antique events between Thursday 1st to Saturday 10th November.
The sale’s most notable Asian antiques example comes in the shape of a fine Chinese bronze censer in the form of a standing tapir (Lot 82). The piece, which dates to the Ming Dynasty, has come from the collection of a local client who inherited it from his Grandfather, the well known London social worker, politician and land reformer, Sir Percy Alden (1865-1944). Alden acquired the work, which is adorned with some fine cloisonné enamelling, in China during his travels in the early 20th century.
The censer is accompanied in the Asian section by a diverse range of works including ceramics, pictures, bronzes, jade and this eclectic mix of lots is reflected throughout the whole sale with pieces ranging from a huge taxidermy of golden eagles (Lot 10) to some interesting tribal items (Lot 120 – 123) and noteworthy memorabilia such as a large Muhammad Ali autograph collection, which includes a pair of signed boxing gloves (Lot 128).
Ali is of course one of the world’s most famous fighters but it is unlikely that he would have fancied a scrap with the infamous duo who accompany with him in the memorabilia section – a large local private collection of items relating to the Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie, has been consigned to the sale (Lot 129-153) and includes everything from paintings to personal items such as Reggie’s guitar, radio and snooker cue.
The Kray’s paintings are a fitting start to the particularly strong picture section where criminality is again on the agenda with a selection of oils by the hand of one of the world’s most famous art forgers, Tom Keating (1917-1984) which have been sourced from the private collection of a former friend of the artist (Lots 161-169).
Other pictures of note include a unique work by the increasingly sought after Edith Le Breton (Lot 172) for whom Boningtons already hold the auction record having sold similar sized example for £3800 in June 2012. A rare oil on canvas by the notable illustrator Harry Rountree (Lot 180) is also expected to attract significant interest when it goes under the hammer, not least because of its endearing subject matter, as well as several other modern works by notable Welsh artists Ceri Richards (Lot 183), Arthur Giardelli (Lots 181 & 182) and Gwilym Prichard (Lot 193).
The sale also includes some fine furniture, many pieces of excellent provenance, particularly Lot 291, an ebonised credenza formerly belonging to the Eleventh Duke of Devonshire. The auction will be brought to its conclusion by the usual exceptional selection of silver and jewellery – such as a jade bangle (Lot 333) which all are hoping will scale the heights reached by a similar example previously sold by Boningtons for £29000!