Results: The Country House Sale

View The Highlights From The Sale

We have featured a selection of some of the remarkable lots from this sale along with the prices they achieved at auction. Read on to discover them.

Antiques & Decorative Objects

In the Antiques & Decorative Objects category, one exceptional piece caught everyone’s eye, a wonderful bronze of a Little Owl by the renowned artist Sally Arnup.

Sally Arnup’s work has a distinguished history at David Duggleby Auctioneers. In 2022, we had the honour of presenting her remarkable bronze sculpture, Arab Horse Aslan, which achieved a record-breaking sale of £23,000!

This time, Lot Number 6058, Little Owl, signed and numbered VVX, soared to an impressive £3,900. A true testament to the enduring appeal of Arnup’s artistry 

_{Above, Left to Right: Lot 6210, Lot 6087 and Lot 6058.}

Lot Number: 6210
"Jaeger-Le Coultre & Ce" - Swiss Atmos V clock 526-5 calibre, circa 1960, featuring a lacquered brass-framed case from the Marina series. The design includes bevelled edge acrylic panels and a deep-cut Chinoiserie style in gold and black. It boasts a white circular dial with Arabic numerals, eight indexes, and baton gilt lacquered hands, accompanied by the original matching wall bracket. The movement is powered by a gas-filled expansion chamber, which expands and contracts between 10 and 27 degrees Celsius, driving the precision mechanism and its heavy circular torsion pendulum. Remarkably, a one-degree temperature difference powers the movement for 48 hours.
Sold For: £1,400.

Lot Number: 6087
Composite marble bust, The Bride, after Raffaele Monti, signed to the underside 'A. Filli Firenze Italy'. The base is inset with a French medallion of Peter the Great dated 1717.
Sold For: £800.

Lot Number: 6058
Sally Arnup, FRBS, ARCA, (1930-2015): Little Owl, bronze, signed and numbered VVX.
Sold For: £3,900.

Furniture & Rugs

Lot Number 6239, an oak bookcase by Eagleman, featuring a penny moulded cresting rail above four glazed doors and four panelled doors, sold for £1,600. We find ourselves continually drawn to the enduring beauty of Yorkshire Oak. This noble timber, rich in history and craftsmanship, has become a beloved part of our heritage. Furniture by esteemed makers like Robert "Mouseman" Thompson and Eagleman Albert Jeffray continues to captivate collectors, often commanding impressive prices at our auctions.

_{Above, Left to Right: Lot 6368, Lot 6336 and Lot 6109.}

Lot Number: 6368
19th century rosewood and beech framed armchair, featuring a traditional shape with an arched back over a deep seat. The chair stands on turned front feet with brass castors.
Sold For: £2,000.

Lot Number: 6336
Feurich of Leipzig - German overstrung medium grand piano, housed in a black lacquered case. The instrument is equipped with a seven-octave M&K of Leipzig roller action keyboard, original strings, and tuning pins, complemented by new hammer heads and dampers. Features include sostenuto and sustain pedals, an adjustable music desk, and a matching adjustable stool.
Sold For: £1,500.

Lot Number: 6109
Taxidermy: Early 20th century Bengal Tiger skin rug (Panthera tigris tigris), an adult female specimen with clawed limbs outstretched. The head is mounted with jaw agape and features glass eyes, all set upon a red felt backing.
Sold For: £1,400.

_{Above, Left to Right: Lot 6251, Lot 6415 and Lot 6239.}

Lot Number: 6251
Large 19th century figured mahogany bookcase, featuring five brass grille panel doors enclosing an interior fitted with adjustable shelves. Designed with a double drop centre and break front, it boasts raised stepped tops and stands on a sturdy plinth base.
Sold For: £2,600.

Lot Number: 6415
Late 19th to early 20th century mahogany and satinwood banded dining table with a telescopic extending mechanism. Accompanied by three additional leaves, it features figured frieze rails, square tapering supports with spade feet, and satinwood panel inlays. The table rests on brass castors for ease of movement.
Sold For: £2,200.

Lot Number: 6239
Eagleman - oak bookcase, topped with a penny moulded cresting rail above four glazed doors and four panelled doors. The interior includes adjustable shelves, all resting on a moulded plinth base with panelled sides. Carved with an eagle signature, this piece is by Albert Jeffray of Sessay, Thirsk.
Sold For: £1,600.

Mouseman Furniture

One of the main highlights from this sale was the Mouseman armchair, accompanied by the fascinating history of its maker, apprentice Graham Hayes. Before the sale, it garnered attention from numerous news outlets, including the Antiques Trade Gazette, The Gazette & Herald, The York Press, The Scunthorpe Telegraph, and The Hull Daily Mail. The chair achieved an impressive sale price of £10,500.

_{Above, Left to Right: Lot 6236 and Lot 6241.}

Lot Number: 6236
Mouseman - unusual circa. 1930s adzed oak tub-shaped armchair, barrel-back with woven leather, the upright carved with mouse signature. Figured panelled sides enclose the panelled seat, complemented by an arched seat rail, stile supports with block feet on castors, crafted by the workshop of Robert Thompson, Kilburn.
Notes: This exceptional piece was made by apprentice Graham Hayes (1914-1943), who later became a founding member of the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF), a commando unit under the Special Operations Executive (SOE) initiated by Winston Churchill in 1940. Hayes was captured in 1942, held by the Gestapo, and tragically executed in 1943. His wartime heroism has recently been brought to life in Guy Ritchie's film 'The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare', where he is portrayed under the name "Graham 'Henry' Hayes." The chair has remained in the family and is offered for sale through direct descent.
Sold For: £10,500.

Lot Number: 6241
Mouseman - adzed oak pedestal chest, fitted with six drawers, each with turned handles. Panelled sides rest on octagonal feet, produced by the workshop of Robert Thompson, Kilburn.
Provenance: This piece is offered for sale through direct descent from Robert Thompson himself, with the vendor being his great-grandchild.
Sold For: £5,200.

Fine Art

Lot Number 6147, a Circle of Sir Peter Lely (Dutch 1618-1680): Three-Quarter Length Portrait of King Charles II Wearing Garter Robes, was discovered at one of our recent antique valuation days in Northallerton and sold for £4,300. We’ve written about this fascinating find, along with many others, in a recent article. Click here to read all about it!

^{Above, Left to Right: Lot 6147, Lot 6184 and Lot 6169.}

Lot Number: 6147
Circle of Sir Peter Lely (Dutch 1618-1680): Three-Quarter Length Portrait of King Charles II Wearing Garter Robes, 17th-century oil on canvas laid onto board, unsigned.
Sold For: £4,300.

Lot Number: 6184
John Wootton (British 1678-1764): Extensive Italianate Capriccio Landscape with Classical Pastoral Figures, oil on canvas, indistinctly signed lower centre 'J Wootton'.
Provenance: Purchased at Christie's, King Street, London, British Pictures Sale, July 1991, Lot 64. Inscribed on an old label on the reverse: 'Landscape manner/Poussin(?) by John Wootton.'
Notes: This sublime work highlights Wootton’s fusion of naturalism and classical idealisation, showcasing serene classical ruins, pastoral figures, and an idyllic landscape. The influence of Poussin and Claude Lorrain is evident, exemplifying why Wootton was often likened to these French masters. His works were highly sought after by aristocratic collectors for their timeless elegance and imaginative vistas.
Sold For: £10,000.

Lot Number: 6169
John Calcott Horsley RA (British 1817-1903): 'The Intruder', oil on canvas signed and indistinctly dated.
Notes: Horsley captures a light-hearted yet evocative domestic scene, showcasing his keen eye for detail and narrative. The painting depicts two young women in a state of startled dismay as they react to the presence of an unexpected 'intruder' — a cockroach on the dressing table. The exaggerated expressions of alarm, juxtaposed with the inconspicuousness of the insect, humourously amplify the sense of dread, demonstrating Horsley’s skill in blending genre painting with social commentary. The work’s charm lies in its gentle satire of the Victorian's heightened sensitivities to cleanliness, propriety and the domestic sphere.
Sold For: £2,600.

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