It’s auction season at Ripon house Elstob & Elstob, and their first sale comes in the form of stunning art and antiques. 15 August is the date to mark in your calendar: the auction is taking place at 10am. You have until then to explore the near 800 lots in the catalogue, which vary in price as much as they do in style and form.
Here is a small sampling of the many high quality pieces for sale.
Live like a true aristocrat with this Victorian Coromandel vanity case, which was made for Lady Grace Lowther, Countess of Lonsdale. It is rectangular in form with rounded corners, and the brass inlaid lid includes the initials G.L. which open to reveal a fitted velvet lined interior containing ten cut-glass.
This Chinese lacquer centre table radiates quality craftsmanship. The gilded circular top is inlaid with intricate details of peonies and peacocks on rockwork. To one side is a frieze drawer. The table itself is raised on a reeded green columnar stem, which issues from a square plinth to a quadform base with imposing dragon paw feet. It measures 75cm in height.
Another high quality and statement antique is this William and Mary oyster-veneered chest of drawers. Its moulded rectangular top features a geometric inlay, which comes over two short drawers above three long-graduated ones, each fitted with engraved brass backplate handles. Overall, the drawers are raised on bun feet; measures 81 cm high by 88 cm wide by 54 cm deep.
Myles Birket Foster (1825-1899) was a British illustrator, watercolourist and engraver in the Victorian period. He was born in North Shields, England, but later moved with his family to London in 1830, where his father founded the successful beer-bottling company, M. B. Foster & son. After leaving school, Foster initially went into his father’s business, however he quickly proved his talent for art. His father then secured him an apprenticeship with the wood-engraver Ebenezer Landells, where the budding artist went on to complete illustrations for various magazines, newspapers and periodicals. He also became a book illustrator and started to paint in oils.
This work, On the Scent, bears a monogram lower right, attributing it to Myles Birket Foster. The piece is an oil on canvas in a gilt-composition framed. Overall, it measures 105.5 by 90 cm.
Continuing the animal theme is this pair of surly Bengal tigers. The large bronzes are modelled standing in fierce poses with teeth bared and wild eyes. They are approximately 63 cm high and 117 cm long.
As a reminder, Elstob & Elstob’s Fine Art & Antique sale is taking place on 15 August – and their next auction to follow will be Jewellery, Silver & Watches on 20 August.
