Fine Glass and British Ceramics |18-19 June, Knightsbridge
The Selected Contents of Great Witchingham House | 19 June-3 July, Knightsbridge
Old Master Paintings | 3 July, New Bond Street
Fine Clocks | 3 July, New Bond Street
Antiquities | 4 July, New Bond Street
500 Years of European Ceramics including the Twinight Collection | 4 July, New Bond Street
Fine Decorative Arts | 5 July, New Bond Street

London - An important and rare painting by the master of illusion, Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627-1678) was the star of Bonhams' London Summer Classics series. Perspective of an Open Gallery ('The Tuscan Gallery') achieved £356,000. The Classics series, offering the finest in the classic arts from Antiquities and Fine Clocks to Fine Decorative Arts, Glass, European Ceramics and Old Master paintings exceeded £7 million achieving a total of £7,155,136.

Twinight Collection was highlight of the season

The sale of exquisite pieces from the fabled Twinight Collection was undoubtedly a highlight. Assembled over 25 years by the passionate collector, Richard Baron Cohen, it is the world's largest and most important collection of early 19th century porcelain. Superb examples of the finest museum-quality porcelain together with an exceptional selection of enamel portrait miniatures from the 17th to the 19th century captivated collectors. Star lots included a large Berlin Vase depicting the Battle of Vitoria, circa 1817 which achieved £38,400, a Sèvres plate from the 'Service Marli d'or', circa 1811 achieved £12,800, more than double its estimate (£5,000-7,000) and an enamel portrait by Henry Bone R.A (1755-1834) of John Williams Hope (1755-1834), facing left in blue coat with gold buttons and black collar, white waistcoat and frilled cravat and powdered hair achieved £7,040 (estimate: £1,000-1,500).

Nette Megens, Director of Decorative Art, Europe & UK and Head of European Ceramics, commented: "The London Classics series brings together a rich and diverse curation of highly sought-after works, celebrating the art of collecting, together with the beauty and craftsmanship of the works themselves. From the Dutch master of trompe l'oeil, Samuel van Hoogstraten, to the truly exceptional pieces from the Twinight Collection, this season has been a real delight, commanding global interest and showing a confidence in the collectors' market."

Other highlights from the Classics series included:

Old Master Paintings sale
• Bernardo Strozzi (Genoa 1582-1644 Venice), The Three Fates, achieved £140,100, more than three times the original estimate of £40,000-60,000.

Fine Clocks sale
• A fine and rare late 17th century gilt metal mounted ebony veneered, quarter repeated table clock, Thomas Tompion, no. 181, thought missing and uncovered by Bonhams achieved £165,500, well over double the original estimate of £60,000-90,000.

Antiquities sale
• A Greek bronze Corinthian helmet, circa 6th century B.C, The Kuizenga Collection of Ancient Art: Part II, achieved £102,000, more than three times the original estimate of £30,000-50,000 and an Egyptian almost life-size bronze and wood striding ibis achieved £82,950.

Fine Glass and British Ceramics sale
• An exceptional pair of Beilby enamelled opaque twist goblets and covers, circa 1765 achieved £82,950, more than four times the original estimate of £20,000-30,000 and an exceptional Chelsea figure of Ceres, circa 1749 achieved £51,200, more than six times the estimate of £8,000-12,000.

Fine Decorative Arts Sale
• An 18th century patinated bronze figure of Christ at the column. Probably Franco-Flemish, the figure of Christ modelled after 'Christ Bound' by Francois Duquesnoy (Flemish,1594-1643) achieved £89,300. A further highlight was an important Elizabeth I silver-gilt tankard, makers mark | B with a rose below, flanked by pellets, in a shaped device London 1592, achieved £38,400 (estimate: £20,000-30,000).

Selected Contents of Great Witchingham House

The Classics series also hosted the sale of the Selected Contents of Great Witchingham House, a Georgian rectory, once owned by former Design Director of Leather Goods at Louis Vuitton, Nicholas Knightly. The sale included works of art, furniture and decorative items carefully chosen by Knightly to create an elegant and refined interior. The 102-lot sale was 100% sold by value with almost every lot sold for more than the original estimate, testimony to the exceptional provenance of the pieces and Knightly's excellent eye for interiors. The top lot was After the Antique: An Italian mid-19th century white marble bust of Isis by Andrea Gallassi, 1841 which achieved £15,360 more than seven times the original estimate (£2,000-3,000).

9 July 2024