The March Fine Art Sale at Minster Auctions has surely been the most anticipated sale since the company formed in November 2020. Much of this excitement was centred around the discovery of an unknown watercolour by J.M.W. Turner by Minster’s paintings specialist James Pearn, as well as an important collection of portraits by the early 20th century artist George Spencer Watson. However, the sale held a fabulous selection of quality antiques across all its diverse sections.

Day one commenced with the silver and plated section and from the off trade was brisk. Amongst the array of strong prices achieved were a Honey Jar in the form of a honeybee (Lot 55), with plated mounts that buzzed passed it’s £100-150 estimate selling for £400. This was followed two lots later by a novelty silver Pepperette in the form of a clown’s head (Lot 57). This characterful item created a strong online duel between the internet bidding platforms and a phone bidder finally making £280. An impressive Chinese silver Presentation Trophy (Lot 91) with fine decoration (Lot 91) was expected to appeal to a range of buyers including the Chinese antiques trade and was conservatively estimated at £2000-3000, it soon surpassed this and finally attained an impressive value of £7,000. The highest price of the section though was achieved by a remarkable George III silver Wine Cooler (Lot 119) that flew along to a final hammer price of £8,000.

The jewellery and watches section followed and after a busy viewing by both private customers and leading London and International Jewellery dealers a strong trade was anticipated, and it didn’t disappoint. Amongst the fantastic results were a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date Submariner Wristwatch (lot 142) which sold for £5000 and an Omega Seamaster Professional Planet Ocean Chronometer Wristwatch (lot 150) selling for £2500. A fine gentleman's Patek Philippe manual wind Wristwatch (lot 147) was much sought after, and the hammer went down at £3000.

Amongst the jewellery, as recent sales have proven, 19th & early 20th century pieces are still attracting much attention, and these achieved the stand-out prices. Highlights from this sale included a charming Victorian Pearl, Diamond and Ruby Crescent and Star Brooch (lot 174) selling for £1000 and an early 20th Century Pearl and Diamond Negligée (lot 210) Necklace which made £1800. An antique Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl and Diamond Butterfly Brooch (lot 220) sold for £850 proving the ongoing trend for nature subjects in jewellery. The star of the show was a 19th Century Pearl and Diamond ribbon and heart Cluster Ring (lot 179) which took bidding up to £1600 from the £4-600 estimate. An interesting lot to close the jewellery was a rainbow Collection of twenty eight Hardstone Scarabs & Intaglios (lot 242) which eventually sold for £420 after a flurry of bidding.

With the paintings section imminent a frisson of excitement was palpable in the sale office as staff prepared for the multiple phone bids covering the more notable works in the section. Before the big business of the Turner began an array of other works were to be offered. An interesting 18th Century miniature Portrait attributed to Richard Conway depicting a lady in period costume (Lot 273) was expected to appeal to this niche collector’s market and so it proved with internet bidding taking the items to £1,900.

The Portraits by George Spencer Watson followed shortly afterwards. A striking nude study (Lot 279) had attracted many admirers during the view and multiple phone bidders and the internet drove the price far beyond its £10,000-15,000 estimate to £52,000. Another female portrait by the artist entitled ‘My Lady of the Rose’ (Lot 282) also exceeded its £10,000-15,000 estimate selling for £20,000.

Then we came to the rediscovered watercolour by J.M.W. Turner depicting Hampton Court in Herefordshire (Lot 300). This item had been forgotten in the contents of the properties former owners and was found at Kinsham Court in Herefordshire. There were multiple phone bids booked with many from the London fine art trade. Bidding was slow to start at £10,000 but three phone bidders settled into a slow match with the bidding increasing at £1,000 increments. After a few hesitations and slowing of the bidding the hammer finally fell at £96,000.

Day two started with the furniture section with results that continued to buck the recent trend. An 18th Century Kitchen Table (Lot 485) of suitably rustic condition and construction that indicated a local provenance proved popular selling for £2,300. A 17th Century oak Dresser Base of large proportions (Lot 521) was also eagerly fought over making £4,600.

The Medals section included a diverse arrange of mainly British decorations. Amongst them was a WWII Bomber Command Group (Lot 720) awarded to Warrant Officer W.G. Higgs, an engineer aboard a Halifax shot down on 19th September 1942 on a raid over Saarbrucken. Having been taken Prisoner of War Higgs spent time in several Camps before eventually being repatriated in May 1945 and issued the Medal group including Air Crew Europe Star and the famous Caterpillar Club Badge, this lot sold for £2,300.

Minster Auctions next Fine Art & Collector’s Sale is on 12th June 2024 and we are now inviting entries.