London – This October, Bonhams Knightsbridge presents four sales offering rare and important works across the arts, including paintings, folk and naïve craftsmanship, silver and ceramics. The lustrous surfaces of Ndidi Ekubia's hammered silver Britannia vase, 2009, can be admired in the Silver and Objects of Vertu sale from 30 September – 9 October. An extremely rare Irish mether from the 14th-15th century is among the extraordinary items on offer in the Vernacular Furniture, Folk and Naïve Art and Textiles sale from 4-22 October. An exceptional oil painting by John Stevens Dews of Lulworth and Shamrock off the Isle of Wight, 1929, leads The Marine Sale on 16 October. The final sale of the month, the Nelson and The Navy sale from 10-24 October, will include a selection of ceramics, enamels and glass celebrating Britain's Navy and Admirals, notably a Coalport breakfast cup and saucer from the 'Nelson Set Tea Service' circa 1802.

Silver and Objects of Vertu
30 September – 9 October

A hand-raised Britannia standard silver vase with textured surface by Ndidi Ekubia (estimate £2,000-3,000) is among the fine selection of works offered in the Silver and Objects of Vertu sale. Meticulously crafted using different hammers and wooden stakes, this functional vessel is captivating in its movement and fluidity. Ekubia, intrigued by sculptural formations, trained at the Royal College of Art, completing an MA in Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork and Jewellery. A celebrated artist known for her hand-raised silver, Ekubia is represented in important public collections of contemporary craft across the UK, including The Victoria and Albert Museum and The Ashmolean Museum, and in 2017 was awarded an MBE for her services to silversmithing.

Vernacular Furniture, Folk & Naïve Art, and Textiles
4-22 October

An extremely rare Irish mether (estimate £3,000-5,000), offered from the Collection of Dr Jim of Penrith Cumbria, is an unmissable highlight of the Vernacular Furniture, Folk and Naïve Art and Textiles sale. The mether would have been used during a celebration or ceremony, when 'medd' or 'mead' would be consumed from a corner of the vessel's quadrangular rim, before being passed hand-to-hand using its large and striking handles. Irish methers, or 'maeddhers', are extremely rare and this example is thought to be from the 14th or 15th century, crafted from willow. It is illustrated in Owen Evan-Thomas' book 'Domestic Utensils of Wood' and was once a part of the author's own private collection which he amassed over 40 years, although in this time he rarely came across any similar examples. This sale offers the rare opportunity to own one of very few surviving examples of an Irish mether.

From Crewelwork panels to coffers, from spice towers to coquilla snuff boxes there will be something for everyone, whether they are discovering treen for the first time or an established collector.

A viewing of the sale will take place on 20-22 October at Bonhams Knightsbridge.

The Marine Sale
16 October

The Marine Sale offers a wide range of oils and watercolours spanning the last three centuries. It features paintings from the late 18th century by notable artists Nicholas Pocock and William Anderson, as well more modern works by the likes of Montague Dawson and Louis Dodd. Leading the sale is an exceptional oil painting by John Steven Dews (British, born 1949), portraying two important racing cutters of the early 20th century, Lulworth and Shamrock off the Needles, 1929, estimate £30,000-50,000.

By 1929, Lulworth had changed ownership numerous times since she was built by the White Brothers at Itchen in 1920 for Richard H. Lee of Bovey Tracey, Devon. It was under the ownership of Alexander Paton in 1928 that Lulworth became a familiar and successful competitor at Cowes during the final years of King George V's long patronage. The following year, at the pinnacle of her success, Lulworth was celebrated in Dews' painting. She is depicted racing alongside one of Sir Thomas Lipton's famous Shamrocks, designed and built by William Fife at Fairlie in 1908, a composite cutter which proved a great success in her competitive career. Capturing the grandeur of two significant early 20th century racing cutters in the height of their careers, this is a typically spectacular work by Dews, a modern master of Marine painting.

Nelson and The Navy
10-24 October

Following the success of the 'Nelson Forever!' sale in April, Bonhams will be offering a further selection of ceramics, enamels and glass celebrating Britain's Navy and Admirals. In the Nelson and The Navy sale – which will be open over Trafalgar day – are several pieces from Nelson's own services. After Lord Nelson's death at Trafalgar in 1805, his lover Lady Emma Hamilton found herself abandoned by many of his friends and relations, as well as by King George III and the government, who rejected Nelson's request to provide for Emma after his death. Emma's financial problems forced her to part with almost all of her possessions as securities for loans, including most of the china left to her by Nelson. Among her possessions was the 'Nelson Set Tea Service', decorated with Nelson's full arms, which was reputedly presented to him in 1802 by the City of London. In the years following Emma's death in 1815, the set was split up and the remnants, including ten pairs of breakfast cups and saucers, were sold at auction in 1895. The Coalport breakfast cup and saucer, likely one of these ten pairs, are offered with an estimate of £1,500-2,000.

24 September 2024