Sworders

Sworders are an auction house based in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. They have a history dating back to 1782 when their Bishop’s Stortford-based forerunner started out in agriculture and property sales.

In 2008 Sworders moved to new purpose-built auction rooms and they also maintain a valuation office in Hertford.

The firm stages regular sales of antiques and collectables as well as other specialist events including dedicated modern art and design auctions and quarterly Country House sales.


Guild Of Handicraft Piano Sworders Jan 16 2024

Rediscovered Ashbee piano with exhibition history sounds a £16,000 note

17 January 2024

A recently-rediscovered version of one of the best known Guild of Handicraft designs has sold at Sworders for £16,000.

blue john vases

Six lots from upcoming auction of ‘legendary’ dealer’s collection

10 January 2024

Maurice ‘Dick’ Turpin (1928-2005) was one of the best known antiques dealers of his day.

George III brass mortar

Having a blast: 18th century mortar fires up Essex auction

02 January 2024

Sending the old year out with a bang, a George III brass mortar by Jan Verbruggen took £49,000 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at Sworders.

Piano

Ashbee name is key to piano case appeal

11 December 2023

A recently rediscovered version of one of the best-known Guild of Handicraft designs is up for sale at Sworders.

img_26-4.jpg

Imperial power told through a £110,000 hardwood chest

20 November 2023

A Chinese ‘dragon’ box fashioned in the prized Asian wood zitan sold for £110,000 at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) on November 3.

img_20-6.jpg

Third tranche of Sir Rod Stewart's collection emerges at Sworders

13 November 2023

More items from the collection of Sir Rod Stewart are coming up for sale at Sworders this year.

img_16-3.jpg

Take a kesi seat cover or two

23 October 2023

This pair of kesi chair covers woven with front-facing dragons against an apricot ground, date from the late Ming or early Qing dynasty period.

img_20-1.jpg

Dennison’s love of the Samurai

23 October 2023

The art of the Samurai comes to Essex firm Sworders on November 2.

img_46-2.jpg

Bauer’s Balinese scene serves to please

23 October 2023

Dutch artist used a technique that was much admired in his homeland as well as Britain

img_28-4.jpg

Suffragette’s enamel design skills on show via flower power

16 October 2023

Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) timed online sale that closed on August 13 included this rare enamel by Ernestine Evans Mills (1871-1959).

img_22-1.jpg

Elveden Hall sale: provenance creates a heady brew

09 October 2023

Country house auction boasted not just on-the-premises appeal but Guinness and Duleep Singh connection

img_15-1.jpg

Paolo Venini and Fulvio Bianconi: two titans of Italian post-war glass

02 October 2023

Inspired by Carlo Scarpa’s use of murrine glass in the 1930s and 1940s, Paolo Venini (1895-1959) designed a number of vessels in the 1950s that have become classics of post-war Italian design.

Elveden Hall auction

Elveden Hall auction brings back the room bidders

18 September 2023

In what may have felt like a flashback to the past, when bidders actually attended day sales in person, the Elveden Hall auction held by Sworders was deemed a runaway success.

img_30-4.jpg

Honoré Daumier takes on the law

18 September 2023

Among the lots on offer at Sworders’ upcoming Old Master, British and European Art sale is a small sketch of two lawyers by Honoré Daumier (1808-79).

Armchairs and sofa

Guinness family collection to be auctioned in rare on-the-premises sale at Elveden Hall

15 August 2023

A single owner collection from Lord Iveagh will be offered by Sworders at the Guinness family’s stately home Elveden Hall in Suffolk.

img_12-2.jpg

Norwich secular silver survives to make it to auction

03 July 2023

Sworders’ (25% buyer’s premium) June 13-14 Fine Interiors sale included a collection of Norwich 17th century silver assembled by one of East Anglia’s best-known families.

img_24-1.jpg

Adler led avant garde into the British art world

26 June 2023

Refugee artist provided first-hand experience of cutting edge style

img_14-1.jpg

Kangxi blue and white delight in Essex

12 June 2023

The Qing hexagonal form blue and white jardinière shown here is a type used to grow flowers or bonsai at the Qing court.

img_18-1.jpg

Surprise in the saleroom as 'manner of' Old Master makes over 50 times estimate

12 June 2023

Among a number of works at the latest Old Master, British and European Art sale at Sworders (25% buyer’s premium) sparking keen interest were a couple of contrasting paintings selling well above predictions.

img_16-1.jpg

Georgian necklace evokes family memories

05 June 2023

A necklace composed of nine ‘Stuart crystal’ memorial slides comes for sale at Sworders’ auction of Fine Jewellery and Watches on June 27.

News

Categories