Sometimes a smaller auction house gets a great scoop and at the beginning of 2018 it may be Doyle Auctions, New York. In their sale 18LVO1 January 17th 2018, Doyle is auctioning items from the collection of Noel and Harriette Levine, fittingly, the sale is titled: 'The Noel and Harriette Levine Collection.' The sale includes a number of outstanding examples of English furniture, but of particular interest are a pair of walnut George II library chairs, originally from Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire, England. Wimpole Hall was built in 1640-1650 and the history of the hall includes commissions for Henry Flitcroft to make alterations and some years later, Sir Johan Soane was commissioned to design one of the drawing rooms.
The pair of chairs from Wimpole, are walnut, with exquisite carved paw feet and scrolling acanthus leaf carving on the arms and knees. The quality of this pair of chairs is evident when compared to another chair from the same period and collection.
The pair are estimated at $250,000-$350,000, given the provenance of the chairs, you would expect that the chairs would achieve a substantial price. In fact the chairs sold for just under $163,000 (including buyers premium). This result could be attributed to any number of factors, but it does indicate that for the collector or dealer with the economic means, there are some 'bargains' to be had in the English furniture market. It will be interesting to see if Brexit over the next couple of years further impacts English furniture prices.
Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire, England https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate
Pair of walnut George II chairs from the Levine collection. Offered by Doyle Auctions, New York, January 17th 2018, lot 322. Estimate $250,000-$350,000. -Update- Sold $162,500 (including buyers premium)
Mahogany George II chair from the Levine collection. Offered by Doyle Auctions, January 17th 2018, lot 128, Estimate $15,000-$25,000. -Update- Unsold