Sarah Stone, Military Paintings and Cellos

Mallams’ 6 April Art & Music Sale achieved some great results, with total sales of £260,000, approximately 5% above top estimate.

Mallams was delighted that nine Sarah Stone watercolours were included in the sale and these proved just as irresistible as those featured in February’s Oxford Library Sale.

Lot 72 was a striking watercolour depicting a yellow-headed amazon and salmon-crested cockatoo, signed 'Sarah Smith' and dated 1801. Estimated at £8000-£12000 it piqued the interest of several bidders and, after a hard-fought battle, finally sold for a staggering £25,000.

Another signed Sarah Stone work, featuring a ‘Hartlaub’s Touraco’ (lot 74) also performed exceptionally well, going for £22,000 against a £4000-£6000 estimate.

Both watercolours are recorded in the book ‘Sarah Stone: Natural Curiosities from the New Worlds’ by Christine E Jackson, published in 1998.

Pictures saw strong bidding across the board and lot 9, a signed oil painting by the Italian landscape painter and revolutionary, Giovanni Costa (1826-1903), entitled ‘Dawn - Study of the Awakening of Nature’, saw the hammer go to £7200, almost three times top estimate.

A 17th century English school portrait of a bearded gentleman wearing a ruff and buttoned brown tunic (lot 338), achieved £4400, well above its £1500-£2000 estimate.

Frank Watson Wood (1862-1953), the internationally regarded watercolourist, started his career in the Royal Navy and many of his works have a naval theme. Lot 283 in the sale was a signed watercolour ‘The Iron Duke’ dated 1918 and depicted the Royal Naval battleship of the same name at sea amongst a number of other vessels. Estimated at £1500-£2500 it proved popular and sold for £2800.

A charming painting of a WWI officer playing the violin (lot 193) also aroused interest. Painted by the Scottish artist, William Bernard Reid, it was signed and dated 1916, and achieved £1000 against a £600-£800 estimate.

Lot 248 was the top performer in the musical instruments category, achieving a hammer price of £2000, 2.5 times top estimate. This late 19th/early 20th century French cello, retailed by Rushworth & Dreaper of Liverpool, was sold complete with a late 20th century nickel silver mounted ‘Ary France’ bow.

Mallams’ Director and Art & Music Sale specialist, Rupert Fogden, said “Overall, the sale was a great success with some healthy competition and very strong prices throughout”.

Mallams is now accepting entries for its 12 October Picture Sale so if you have any interesting items you are considering selling at auction, please email Rupert Fogden on rupert@mallams.co.uk for a free, informal valuation.

All prices are subject to a 30% buyers' premium (VAT inclusive).