The Barry Lock Collection of paintings, ceramics and furniture achieved over £112,000 at the Cheffins Fine Sale on 28th and 29th June. Consisting of 53 portrait miniatures, 200 pieces of Chelsea-Derby ceramics and multiple pieces of furniture, the collection saw strong bidding across all sections.
A prolific collector, Barry Lock was a senior lawyer at Clifford Chance and personal solicitor to Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson, Nobel prize winner for Chemistry. The sale of these items followed the success of a number of silver items sold at the Cheffins Jewellery, Silver & Watches Sale in April.
A number of Old Master works were consigned as part of the collection, including a portrait of Henry VIII by a Follower of Hans Holbein which sold for £4,000 and a period portrait of Cardinal Reginald Pole, from the Anglo-Italian School, dating from the 16th century, which sold for £1,100.
Henry VIII by a Follower of Hans Holbein
Among the miniatures, the rarest examples saw high prices paid, for example a Portrait of Henry Benedict Stuart the ‘Cardinal of York’ by the Circle of Christian Friedrich Zincke achieved £4,000. Similarly, a Portrait of Thomas Knox, the 2nd Earl of Ranfurly, by George Engleheart (1750 – 1829) sold for £3,200 and a Portrait of John FitzGibbon, 2nd Earl of Clare by Henry Collen (17989 – 1879) sold for £1,800.
Portrait of Henry Benedict Stuart the ‘Cardinal of York’ by the Circle of Christian Friedrich Zincke
Patricia Cross, Head of Old Master Paintings at Cheffins comments: “Barry Lock had an exceptional eye for quality and was a deft collector. His eclectic taste ensured that his collection of paintings and miniatures included rare early portraits which are scarce to come to the market combined with quality 18th century works, both of which were highly sought after by both private collectors and the trade. There is also definitely still a market for portrait miniatures, which is dominated by specialists and trade buyers who were out in force at the sale.”
Among the furniture in the collection, a pair of Victorian rosewood yellow upholstered window seats sold for £1,400 and will be returning to London, and a rosewood and parcel gilt specimen marble chess table, dating from the 19th century sold for £3,400 to a buyer from the USA.
The vast selection of ceramics also saw high prices paid, with three Chelsea-Derby coffee cups and stands from circa 1775 making £550, a Flight Barr and Barr Worcester part service from 1820 achieved £460 and a group of Chelsea-Derby neo-classical decorated porcelain from 1775 made £460.
Auction: The Fine Sale – 28th and 29th June 2023
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA
For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, fine.art@cheffins.co.uk