Discovered in Norfolk by Ely-based auctioneer Rowley Fine Art (15% buyer's premium) this 3in (7.5cm) high watercolour and bodycolour on ivory miniature of Admiral Earl Nelson, top right, is one of a series Sillett painted after works by portrait painter Lemuel Francis Abbott. Nelson wears the Star of the Order of Bath awarded in 1797 after his heroics at Cape St. Vincent and the image is thought to date from c.1799 when Sillett also painted miniatures of other members of Nelson's family. They came into the collection of L. Stuart-Stanley and are now in the Castle Museum, Norwich.
Mounted in an oval verre eglomise border and ebonised frame, this new discovery was the highlight of Rowley Fine Art's sale conducted at the Tattersalls, Newmarket on September 7. Taking his first sale for Rowley, recently-appointed auctioneer and head of the valuations department, Silas Currie fielded several substantial commission bids and five potential buyers bidding over the telephone, but at £8200 the picture was eventually sold to the proprietor of an East Anglian Gallery who purchased it on behalf of a client who wished to remain anonymous.
With many exhibitions planned for next year's Trafalgar bicentenary, Nelson is also in the saleroom spotlight.
Leading the September 1 sale at S.J. Hales (15% buyer's premium) of Bovey Tracey was the Liverpool-type jug, bottom right, transfer printed and painted in colours with Britannia Weeping Over the Ashes of Her Hero Lord Nelson to one side and a Landlord's Caution to the reverse. Standing 8 1/4in (21cm) high, the creamware jug with soome imperfections was competed to £1700 (estimate £800-1200).
A rare Early Sorrow child's plate, 7in (17cm) diameter, commemorating the death of Albert Edward Prince of Wales born November 9th 1841 sold at £200 and there were other good 19th century ceramics in this sale.
Sold for £500 was a 10in (25cm) high Pratt type toby jug typically modelled as a seated rotund man wearing a brown and ochre tricorn hat anda long blue jacket and holding a spotted jug of foaming ale (estimate £500-700), while a Swansea pottery cow creamer with blue and brown markings standing on a green rectangular base, took £340.
Welsh porcelain continues to impress and here a Sims-decorated Swansea cabinet cup finely painted to the ovoid body with fruit filled baskets interspaced by floral scrolls sold at £750.
