GREAT TREASURE SALE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3110, 14 June 1917, Page 3

GREAT TREASURE SALE

JEWELS, PICTURES AND SILVER FOR THE RED CROSS

£36,714 IN FOUR DAYS

Christie's famous miction rooms in King Street, St. James's, havo seen more excited 6cene3, but never a more animated one than'the first da/ of the great Red Cross Gift Sale produced on March 22. Thore was something of a revelation of the stored wealth and beauty of England in the huge collection of art treasures tho first instalment of which was brought under the- hammer. Tor tho exquisite things that had been sent to be 6old for the joint benefit of the Red Cross and the Order of St. John did not all come from the collections of people whoso names denote great riches. Many beautiful objects came from the homes of people whose names in the catalogue were unfamiliar to the general public. There were contributions from the cabinets of tho King ana Queen, from highly placed personages, famous collectors, and connoisseurs. But tho chief impression that the first day's sale gave was of the vast number of quiet English homes that are treasure houses of beauty and of patriotic devotion. The "clou" of the day's salejvas the disposal of the gift of the King. It was a bronze sacrificial bowl ascribed to the remote period of the Chow dynasty. Bidding opened at 50 guineis- for this remarkable and historic piece, and after a spirited competition it was knocked down for 380 guineas. Adark green jade vase, presented by Princess rtenTv of Battenberg, realised 60 guineas. The highest price realised in tho day was 1050 guineas. This was 'paid by Mr. Louis Duveen for tho exquisite Frankenthal porcelain frroup of which his own firm of Duveen Brothers wero the donors. The day's total came to .£5021. Silver Treasures. Somo notablo pieces of old English silver were among the treasures offered at the sale on Friday, March 23. One of tho most valuablo was Sir Ernest Cassel's large George I oval wino cistern, which was 6old to Mr. Heni-y Scott, after spirited bidding, for £1995. Mr. B. J. Warwick's Elizabethan standing salt-cellav sold for -CGOS, and the Misses Ross's Elizabethan Tiger-ware jug for .i:000. . : Lord and I-ady Northctiffo s _superb Queen Anne Monteith realised .£270. Mr. Thomas Tavlor's • James II tankard Mr. Harvey Hodden's pair of Charles I goblets .£370, and a pair of "William 1H cylindrical casters M6O. Lord Hanibleden's Charles U silver-gilt tankard and cover was bought by the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths' Company for ;E350. A groat event of UlO sale was tho putting up of Fred Walker's picture, "The Plough," so woll known from tho Macbeth engraving, a copy of which went with the picture. "Tho Plough" was given for thn sale by Major V. P. Misa, and it was bought for .£5870 by Lady Wernher, who intends presenting it to the nation. The picturo was exhibited in tho Royal Academy in 1870, and is generally regarded as tho most import, ant of tho artist's works. Tt was an "attempt to emulate tho rhythmic grace of the Greek bas-relief," but it owes lis (-.harm io the orcrponering sentiment of i tho landscape. £472 for the "Golliwogs." Other important incidents were the sale of Queen Alexandra's Album of English Drawings for .£231 and of "Golliwog," father of all tho "Golliwogs," and two of his children, in a glass case, together with portraits of all I his family, drawn by Miss Florence Upton, for the oleven famous books, and presented by her to tho sale. They wero' bought by Mr. Agnew for -E473 10s. Of tho cm pi v. canvases for portraits bv famous artists, Mr. John Laver/s fetched ,£915, purchased by Sir Charles Henry; Mr. Augustus John's, .£892 (Captain Brothorton), and tho Hon. John Collier's, i2SB 10s. A portrait of Mr. Lloyd Georgo when Chancellor of the Exchequer, m black and white, by Sir Luko Fildes, R.A;, signed by sitter and painter, was purchased by Mr. Martin for mi 10s On jewellery day there were 133 lots, and tho first' remarkable prico was obtained for tho brilliant necklace- given by Mr. and Mrs. Ashley Dodd, which was sold for £175 (Koderiques). The gold brooch with scroll foliage sot. with sapphires and pearls presented by tho Queen was bought by Messrs. Harman for £160. . , , , • M Tho highest price reached during tho day was for the brilliant brooch of scroll design with pear-shaped drops presented by Mrs. Harms-worth, son. This, starting at £250, reached £715. Tho grand result of tho four days was £36,714, against £22,277 last year.