If you’d love to bring some English country house grandeur into your life, make your dream a reality this autumn.
On Saturday, October 13 the entire contents of Staffordshire mansion Bishton Hall will be sold at auction.The sale will take place at the grand period property as part of Hansons Auctioneers’ October 10-16 Bishton Country House and Fine Art Auction.
More than 300 lots from Bishon Hall will be available to buy, many of which have stood in situ for centuries. The Grade II* listed building, at Wolseley Bridge, near Stafford, dates back to 1750.
Hansons’ associate director Adrian Rathbone is in charge of the sale and has been cataloguing the antique treasures, portraits and random collectables. Here he picks out seven items to look out for, which could be well worth investing in.
- If you really want to turn heads, a chapel statue by Hew Lorimer is a wonderful object. It’s over 6ft tall and stands on a plinth. Lorimer (1907-1993), a renowned Scottish sculptor, had profound religious beliefs which had a lasting effect on his art and subject matter. Estimate £2,000.
- Victorian military saddlecloth, circa 1890s, made around the time of the Boer War and monogramed. This is an impressive historical acquisition for anyone with a passion for all things equestrian. Estimate £300-£500.
- There are several paintings and portraits in the sale but one I particularly like is of horse and actually features the aforementioned saddlecloth. It’s Victorian, dating back to the 1890s. Estimate £200.
- Who wouldn’t want a piece of furniture that once resided at Bishton Hall? There are many fine pieces to choose from and you don’t have to spend too much to acquire some of them. For example, there is a lovely hall chair, circa, 1860, which would look elegant in any home. Estimate £100. We also have a classic pink suite from the sitting room at Bishton Hall, estimate not yet available.
- At the upper end of the scale, one of the star buys is a beautiful Chinese chinoiserie cabinet which currently adorns Bishton Hall’s blue morning room. Estimate £2,000.
- If cars are more your thing we’re selling a restored series one Land Rover from 1958, estimate £5,000-£8,000. You could buy a classic car to explore your own country estate.
- Another unusual buy is a signed photo of former American president Theodore Roosevelt, dated 1909, estimate
Bishton Hall County House and Fine Art Auction info
Bishton Hall Country House and Fine Art Sale will be held between October 10-16 at Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffordshire, ST17 OXN. Bishton Hall’s contents will be sold on October 13, 10.30am. Viewing at the hall: October 8, 11am-4pm; October 9, 11am-7pm; October 10, 11am-6pm; October 11-13 and 15-16, 9am-10.30am. To find out more, visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk or call [email protected]
The full catalogue will be online by Friday, September 28 on www.the-saleroom.com – where you can bid and browse live – and will also be available to buy from Hansons, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire, for £10. To order one, £12 P&P, please email [email protected]
