Captivated by the primary provenance and courted by very low expectations, a packed room and up to 20 telephone lines competed for a cache of objects acquired by Keith's great uncle, Edwardian architect and garden designer Robert Weir Schultz (1860-1951) for his home at The Barn, Hartley Wintney.
He bought the property in the early 1900s and its contents reflect his interest and involvement in the Arts and Crafts movement. Andrew Keith, who died late last year, moved to The Barn after the Second World War and had worked with the art dealer Richard Green from the early 1960s.
Pictured right is a Maw & Co., ovoid form vase that prompted one of sale's fiercest bidding contests. Finely painted in red lustre by Walter Crane (whose monogram appears to the base), the 121/2in (31cm) high vase was one of a number of objects in the collection for which early literature has survived. Offered with modest guidelines of £1500-2000, it was ultimately sold to a London collector bidding in the room at £42,000 (plus 15% buyer's premium).
