More than 150 Victorian Staffordshire portrait figures, gathered over a lifetime by a Belfast music teacher and composer, are set for auction.
The late John McDowell, former Head of Music at Stranmillis University College, Belfast, amassed a museum-worthy collection of figures dating back to the 1840s. All were proudly displayed in his home, described as ‘his personal display cabinet’.
Such was the size and historical importance of the collection, Mr McDowell bequeathed it to Ulster Museum. However, due to lack of space the museum suggested the auction route. Now collectors worldwide will have the opportunity to bid on ‘a wonderful collection of enormous quality’ at Hansons Auctioneers on September 5.
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Gillian Finney, Hansons’ ceramics valuer said: “This amazing private collection came to Hansons following an email from Ulster Museum. John left his pottery to the museum but unfortunately it could not house it all. We were delighted to assist and travelled to Belfast to bring the collection to our Derbyshire saleroom. It’s been an absolute pleasure cataloguing these figures which date back to circa 1847. They have already sparked interest among collectors globally.”
Nick Burton, a friend of Mr McDowell, said: “John was a lovely man, a gentleman, proud to be British and Northern Irish. He was patriotic and a great royalist. He taught music at Stranmillis University College, part of the famous Queen’s University Belfast, and continued teaching music privately in retirement. Music was his passion.
“He was also keenly interested in antiques – Cranberry Glass, Irish antiques, Victorian British pottery, in particular, Staffordshire figures, especially portrait figures. He was well known on the Northern Ireland antique circuit and regularly had stalls at antique fairs. His interest often took him to England searching for antiques, his main focus being top quality Staffordshire figures. John was a real connoisseur and collected only the very best he could find. His home in Belfast became his personal display cabinet. His wonderful collection was not of enormous quantity but of superb quality and was carefully and beautifully displayed.”
Important lots
Lot 17 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Est £200-250
Lot 47 William Smith O’Brien. Est £350-400
Lot 48 Fredrick George and Maria Manning, above. Est £350-400
Lot 52 Joseph John Gurney. Est £250-350
Lot 75 Mlle Alboni as Cinderella. Est £100-150
Lot 77 Jealous Wife. Est £150-200
Lot 86 Death of the Lion Queen. Est £200-300
Lot 88 Leaping Boys, below Est £250-300.
About the collector
By Peter Hunter, Mr McDowell’s friend and executor
John McDowell was born in Armagh City, Northern Ireland, in 1935 and studied music at Queen’s University Belfast where his tutors included Raymond Warren for composition – though as a composer he is mainly self-taught. He was Head of Music at Stranmillis University College, Belfast, for 17 years. Here John founded and directed the Stranmillis Singers and Stranmillis Operatic Society. He broadcast regularly as pianist and conductor with the BBC, and also taught advanced piano students until he took ill some years ago.
John was a fine composer with numerous works broadcast and recorded. These include a symphony, chamber music, many choral pieces – both religious and secular – songs and works for piano. He also arranged works for various voices and instruments, including voice and recorders. John had a number of compositions published and performed, both here in Britain and America. He was awarded prizes for composition including a Gold Medal at the Dublin Music Festival (Feis Coel).
In addition to his musical activities, John had many other interests, including art, literature, modern languages and antiques. But his remarkable collection of Staffordshire Portrait Figures were his pride and joy.
John was a wonderful conversationalist, particularly at the dinner table. He possessed a brilliant sense of humour, often telling the most ridiculous stories with a perfectly straight face, leaving everyone around him in hysterics. Often his conversation was coloured by wonderful literary and poetic quotations. One constantly learned from John’s intellect.
Sadly, John passed away on December 15, 2023, having enriched the lives of all who knew him by his wonderful temperament and knowledge. He was of a period which will never return and his entire circle miss him terribly.
Collection preview
A private viewing of the collection will be held at Hansons’ Derbyshire saleroom in Etwall on Tuesday August 27 from 5-7.30pm. To book a place, please email: [email protected]
Auction: The Late John McDowell Victorian Staffordshire Figure Collection will be offered by Hansons Auctioneers on September 5, 2pm.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CATALOGUE
Enquiries: [email protected]
