London – An exceptional single-owner collection of furniture, silver, ceramics, and clocks, as well as an extensive library, belonging to the late Dutch connoisseur-collector Cornelis Paulus van Pauwvliet, sold yesterday for a total of £2.86m at Bonhams New Bond Street on Tuesday 21 November.

Charlie Thomas, Bonhams UK Group Director for House Sales and Private and Iconic Collections, Furniture and Works of Art, UK, commented, "We were delighted with the result for this exceptional private collection. It represented the very best of Dutch and French Fine and Decorative Works of Art. Diligently assembled by Cornelis Paulus van Pauwvliet over a 50-year period and housed in his Amsterdam home, the works in this sale showcased the evolution of Dutch taste from the 17th century to the late 19th century, and it was no surprise that collectors responded so enthusiastically."

Highlights of the sale include:

• Kees van Dongen's Deauville, Le Champ de Courses from 1935 that sold for £356,000.
• Johan Jongkind, Sortie du port de Honfleur of 1866 achieved £102,000 against an estimate of £50,000-70,000.
• An Italian Baroque ormolu mounted pietra dura inlaid ebony casket, attributed to the grand Ducal Workshops of Florence made £165,000, against an estimate of £70,000 - 100,000.
• Dutch silver did well: an 18th century Dutch silver tankard by Johannes Schiotling from Amsterdam, that was part of the Rijksmuseum's seminal Rococo exhibition in 2001-2000, achieved £108,000 against an estimate of £30,000 - 50,000.
• A fine 18th century Dutch silver coffee-urn by Joannes Winter of Amsterdam from 1733 made £95,650 (estimate: £30,000 - 50,000).

The extensive Dutch, French and English clocks also exceeded expectations. The top lot in this section was the mid-18th century French ormolu-mounted longcase clock by Julien Le Roy of Paris that made £89,300 against a low estimate of £70,000. An 18th century ebony table clock by George Graham, London c. 1730, achieved £82,950 (estimate £30,000 - 50,000).

22 November 2023