June sale preview - Here are a few of our favourite things......

June sale preview. Here are a few of our favourite things…..

Following on from the huge success of our May sale the next one has come round so quickly, and with over 1000 lots on offer the June auction promises to be a very special sale! We have such a huge and diverse selection of items from all departments! So its time to go to the team and see whats caught their eye….

Today we ask Nick and Andy to select three lots each and we think they’ve chosen some rather special items!

Nick Davies - Director

No 1 - A Second World War Distinguished Service Medal group awarded to Henry Alexander Brooks CH. STO K. 64576 comprising Distinguished Service Medal with bar, Long Service and Good Conduct medal to H.64578 H.A Brooks S.P.O HMS Mallard, Africa star and bar, Italy star, Atlantic star and a 1939/45 medal together with two cased attendance medals. 

Nick says - This is such a special medal group, not only because of the Distinguished Service Medal but because of all the related material. So often we have medals from unknown soldiers with no back story as to who there were or where they were from. This group comes together with a huge amount of papers and photographs which build up an amazing story of this soldiers war. Not only does it make for amazing reading it's so nice to be able to know more about what he did and where he served.

No 2 - A gentleman's stainless steel Omega Speedmaster  Professional pre moon wrist watch, movement numbered 26548707, case 145012 67 calibre 321, lyre horns, case diameter 42mm,  tachometric bezel encompassing batons and three subsidiary dials to a black circular dial, all to a black canvas strap.

Nick says - This is just such a rare watch! Being pre-moon it has that extra element of interest for collectors. Add to that the condition which is just wonderful and the over all look which is exactly what buyers are looking for at the moment and it all adds up to being an exciting find for the sale.

No 3 - WILLIAM A BREAKSPEARE (1856-1914) Mliss, three quarter length portrait of a young woman, oil on canvas, signed, 55cm x 32cm, frame size 63cm x 40cm, see The History of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists by Joseph Hill & William Midgley Plate 41.

Nick says - I found this painting on a recent call and the minute I saw her I was transfixed by her! Everything about it is just so beautiful, the pose, the execution and as someone who loves the Arts & Crafts period it took my breath away. In addition its Birmingham born and bred like me! Over the years we’ve handled a number of works by Breakspeare and having done some research I was able to find exactly when this work was exhibited which only adds to the appeal of an already beautiful painting.

Andy Mayall - Furniture specialist

No 1 - A 1970s 'Marwood' range Rio rosewood extending dining table of rounded rectangular form, designed by Martin Hall for Gordon Russell Furniture Ltd, raised to twin pedestals with splayed feet, together with a set of ten 'Marwood' chairs, S/D. Originally designed in 1972, this table and chairs is understood to have been purchased from Heals', Tottenham Court Road, London in 1976. A hand-annotated Heals' business card referring to a table and 10 chairs, dated 28/04/76 with the price of £1558.05, accompanies this lot.

Andy says -  I’ve been valuing furniture for many years now and have seen trends come and go. While I appreciate quality manufacture and period pieces I can’t deny my personal passion is for mid-century modern! I’ve watched this market grow so quickly over recent years but when you look at the quality and styling of mid-century furniture it's hardly surprising that younger buyers have tapped in to this super cool trend. This dining table is an absolute design classic from one of the best makers, Gordon Russell. The shape, style and colour make it a real statement piece and having all its original paperwork is just the cherry on the cake!

No 2 - An Edwardian mahogany and satinwood cross-banded Carlton House desk by Maple & Co Limited, the swept brass gallery above a drawers and fitted cupboard compartments over a leather inset slide above a long frieze drawer flanked by four small drawers on square tapering legs terminating in spade feet, stamped, height 104cm x depth 66cm x width 136cm

Andy says - I’ve chosen this piece because it represents such outstanding value for money! Maple & Co are recognised as one of the great makers of fine furniture and this Carlton House desk is no exception. With so many of us now changing the way we work and increasingly working from home, why not do it in style and at just £600 it's a fantastic buy compared to something you could buy new.

No 3 - A Victorian piano stool 'The Rondlet', by Henry Brooks & Company Limited, numbered 3689 / 600, the rise and fall leather upholstered seat over an iron adjustment disc and a painted simulated rosewood stretcher frame, 33cm square, S/D.

Andy says -  This just made me smile. Over the years I’ve seen so many weird and wonderful inventions from the Victorians, talk about re-inventing the wheel! This little piano stool at first glance looks nothing however the ingenuity of the design can’t be ignored! Rather than spinning the seat around you stay where you are and move the metal plate beneath…..before you know it your on the way up! It needs a little attention but this is such a great piece of 19th century design.

The sale will be held online only on Wednesday the 23rd and Thursday the 24th of June. If you'd like any additional information on any of these lots please don't hesitate to contact us. We will be sharing more favourite finds from the team over the coming weeks and the sale itself will be live on our website in the next week.

Posted on 3 June 2020 in: Auction life