An important Chamberlain Worcester cabinet plate by Thomas Baxter, circa 1820In the 'Regent' body, the rim moulded with shells and gadrooning picked out in gold, the cavetto fully painted with an arrangement of seashells on a richly grained wooden tabletop, the shells including a paper nautilus and a wentletrap, the panel outlined with a fine black line and surrounded by a wide gilt band and a formal classical border, 21.4cm diam, red script mark referring to New Bond Street addressFootnotes:ProvenanceBonhams sale, 7 December 2005, lot 254Twinight CollectionIllustrated by John Sandon, Worcester Porcelain (2009), p.21. For the same shells arranged on a grey marble table top, see the celebrated Swansea plate by Thomas Baxter in the National Museum of Wales (NMW A 38267), illustrated by John O Wilstead and Bernard Morris, Thomas Baxter The Swansea Years 1816-19 (1997), p.38. Baxter returned to Worcester after leaving Swansea, working first for the Flight, Barr and Barr partnership before moving to Chamberlain where he replicated this extraordinary still life scene.In the Museum of Royal Worcester is a pair of Chamberlain plates painted by Thomas Baxter with still lives of fruit. These had remained in the works collection and were acquired by R W Binns for his first museum. The panels on these plate and the present lot mirror a style that Thomas Baxter had used on Coalport plates painted twelve years earlier while he was in London. In June 1820, Chamberlain supplied to John Eversley '30 dessert plates, gadroon and gold with fine paintings of fruit', at a cost of £2 17s. 6d. each- a considerable sum. Presumably these thirty plates had different still life subjects by Baxter and it is likely the present lot with shells was part of this special commission.Baxter is justifiably famous for his shell painting. Examples painted while he was at Flights factory include panels that were titled by Baxter himself 'shells from nature'. In other words, instead of just copying prints of shells, Baxter drew real shells and he would have borrowed actual specimens from collectors. Lewis Dillwyn, proprietor of the Swansea factory owned a notable shell collection, but as Wilstead noted (op cit, pp.37-38), it is unlikely Baxter's Swansea plate was painted from any of Dillwyn's shells. The precious wentletrap shell, named from the Dutch for 'spiral staircase', was once considered to be extremely rare and in the mid 18th century some specimens were sold to collectors for enormous sums. Even as late as 1786 an example belonging to the Duchess of Portland sold at auction for seven guineas. Placing a wentletrap among his shell composition, Thomas Baxter was possibly appealing to wealthy patrons from his time in London, who would have appreciated such a valuable specimen.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
We found 77111 price guide item(s) matching your search
There are 77111 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribe- List
- Grid
-
77111 item(s)/page
A Flight, Barr and Barr Worcester cabinet cup and stand by Thomas Baxter, circa 1814-16Painted with a still life of shells, coral and seaweed in a gilt-edged oval panel within a border of brightly coloured 'jewels', the reverse with 'The Woodman from Cowpers poems', reserved on a deep blue ground with neoclassical gilding, a band of applied 'pearls' below the rim and around the well of the stand, cup 8.1cm high, stand 13.6cm diam, cup with script mark referring to Coventry Street address, title in capitals, stand with circular printed mark (2)Footnotes:ProvenanceTwinight CollectionThomas Baxter was a most accomplished painter of shells on both a large scale and on smaller, delicate panels. See the pair of cabinet cups sold by Bonhams on 5 June 2019, lot 226. The image of the Woodman and his dog was taken from an engraving published in 1810 after a drawing by Richard Westall. In William Cowper's poem, the hardy Woodman treks through the snow with his faithful hound, 'Shaggy, and lean, and shrewd, with pointed ears, And tail cropp'd short'.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
A still life of lemons, bread and oysterssigned 'B. v. der(?) Meer' (lower right)61 x 59.5cmCondition report: Framed 73 x 71.5cmOil on canvas which has been lined. An old tear in the upper right quadrant is starting to pull forward, the lining is no longer strong enough to hold the tear flat. The paint layers are worn and thin in many areas. Overpaint covers the tear and other small damages in the painting. The varnish is thick and yellowed with age. There are deep scuffs to the varnish at the upper right corner.
A still life of flowers, fruit and seashells on a wooden ledgeoil on canvas75 x 54.5cmProvenance:Property from a Suffolk country houseCondition report: Framed 92 x 72.5cmOil on canvas which has been lined. The canvas tension is good and the picture is in plane. The paint layer is stable overall. There are localised areas of retouching mainly located in the background, which appear slightly lighter compared to the original but are acceptable from a normal viewing distance. The varnish is clear, even and semi-glossy.
A still life of game birds and a rabbit upon a ledgesigned 'Elias.Vonck.' (lower left on the table edge)oil on canvas 90 x 102cmProvenance:A Northamptonshire country houseCondition report: framed 119 x 131cmOil on canvas which has been lined. The canvas tension is good and the picture is generally in plane with a few minor undulations around the edges. Losses and damage have occurred to the edges of the painting which have been filled and overpainted. The background is very worn and the red ground is visible in areas. There are scattered areas of overpaint across the background which is now slightly darkened compared to the original. There are localised areas of cracks within the paint layer, notably in the area of the signature. The varnish is yellowed and semi-glossy. There is a layer of surface dirt and some white accretions along the lower edge.
A still life of carnations, peonies and other flowers in a wicker basket, with a squirrel eating nutsoil on canvas58.5 x 93.5cmProvenance:Richard Green Ltd, London,Landwade Hall, Exning, SuffolkCondition report: Framed 75.5 x 110.5cmOil on canvas which has been lined. The canvas tension is good and the picture is in plane. The paint layer is in a good condition overall. Areas of overpaint are mainly located to the background in the lower half. Along the lower edge the overpaint has become light over time. The varnish is clear, glossy and even. There is some surface dirt and fly spots across the surface.
incorporating a still life of a monkey, lillies, tulips and roses set in a classical landscape, in the manner of Pieter Casteels above three inset bevelled edge mirrors,125 x 140cmProvenance:Property from a Suffolk country houseCondition report: Some small areas of loss of gilt to the frame, Still life canvas re-lined Canvas size 65 x 122cm
STILL LIFE. A watercolour still life, unsigned. (The vendor suggests that this was painted by Guy Lewis, as part of his entrance examination to a Paris Art School in the 1920's. He was a founder member of the Penzance Playgoer Theatre Club, later to become the Acorn Theatre.) Framed in a lacquered chinoiserie frame. Image size 54 x 38cm. Please note that all items in this auction are previously owned & are offered on behalf of private vendors. If detail on condition is required on any lot(s) PLEASE ASK FOR A CONDITION REPORT BEFORE BIDDING. The absence of a condition report does not imply the lot is perfect.WE CANNOT SHIP THIS LOT due to fragility, size or weight. Our recommended carrier is MBE Plymouth on +44 (0) 1752 257224 or info@mbeplymouth.co.uk.
WATERCOLOURS. A collection of watercolour sketches, mostly unsigned of coastal, architectural & still life subjects. One work initialled B.H.M.'46, another initialled W S & two others initialled W W. Various sizes, ranging from 8 x 13cm to 30 x 23cm. (33) Please note that all items in this auction are previously owned & are offered on behalf of private vendors. If detail on condition is required on any lot(s) PLEASE ASK FOR A CONDITION REPORT BEFORE BIDDING. The absence of a condition report does not imply the lot is perfect.WE CAN SHIP THIS LOT, but NOT if part of a large, multiple lots purchase
Loading...-
77111 item(s)/page