Woolley & Wallis

Salisbury-based auction house Woolley & Wallis is a leading UK provincial saleroom.

Founded in 1884, they now hold regular specialist sales in areas from Asian Art and Tribal Art to 20th Century Design, Jewellery, European Ceramics, Arms & Armour and Fine Art.

In 2016, they opened a London office in Mayfair.


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Trading places: Japanese lacquer cabinet made for the Western market

18 October 2021

This 17th century Japanese lacquer cabinet was made for the Western market, c.1680.

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From Mr Wong of Cat Street

18 October 2021

Republican plaques bought at Hong Kong dealership take top price in Chinese art sale.

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From the field marshal’s collection

18 October 2021

This 3ft 7in x 24in (1.08m x 60cm) ink and colour on paper of mandarin ducks swimming amid lotus blooms is by Chen Zhifo (1896-1962).

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Asian art auction previews: Stars and swirls

11 October 2021

Among the Middle Eastern works of art in Woolley & Wallis’ Asian Art Part II sale taking place in Salisbury on November 24 are these two 17th century Safavid Gombroon ware bowls.

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Scandal and sedition in ceramics

27 September 2021

Salisbury sale offered commemorative ceramics from single-owner collection

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If life gets you down a cup of tea always helps

27 September 2021

While Americans demonstrated by throwing tea into the harbour, the British registered complaints by putting the leaves into suitably decorated teapots.

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Four upcoming jewellery highlights including a necklace with a Duke of Wellington provenance

20 September 2021

A selection of four upcoming jewellery lots including a necklace comprising 21 cameos and intaglios previously owned by the Duke of Wellington.

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‘Monuments Man’ Croft-Murray’s expert eye highlighted at Woolley & Wallis

20 September 2021

Works from the collection of Edward Croft-Murray (1907-80), former keeper of prints and drawings at the British Museum, provided plenty of sale highlights.

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Drinking a toast to the Bonnie Prince – in an English teapot

13 September 2021

The sale of the collection of Robin Simpson (1940-2020) was celebration of British commemorative ceramics.

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Animal magic as Japanese works bring demand at Woolley & Wallis

06 September 2021

This iron model of a hawk above is a striking example of a jizai okimono – lifelike, articulated animal figures popular in the last decades of Edo-period and Meiji Japan.

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Superb collection of British commemorative ceramics comes to auction

23 August 2021

The Robin Simpson (1940-2020) collection of British commemorative ceramics comes for sale next month.

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Art Deco pendant and earrings boast impressive provenances and prices

23 August 2021

The central stone to this Art Deco seed pearl and diamond pendant is an elongated cushion-shaped pink sapphire, weighing about 25ct.

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Pride of the snuff boxes from Lion collection

16 August 2021

A silver sale at Woolley & Wallis (25/12% buyer’s premium) this summer included a selection of 24 snuff boxes from the Lion collection – as published in 'British Silver Boxes 1640-1840, The Lion Collection' (2015).

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Anthony Eden's military medals sold in Salisbury auction

09 August 2021

The sale of a Military Cross group of honours at Woolley & Wallis (25/12% buyer’s premium) of Salisbury marked what is believed to be the first time that the medals of a British prime minister have been offered at auction.

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Flowery fields bloom at auctions

26 July 2021

Two views of children in flowery fields, both by Scottish artists, were among the works drawing competition at Woolley & Wallis’ (25/12% buyer’s premium).

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CERAMICS AND GLASS: Remarkable survivors in the same family since the 18th century

12 July 2021

A set of remarkable wine glasses that had remained in the same family since the 18th century was one of the highlights among quality items in two sales.

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Collectors wise to owl rarity

12 July 2021

Back in 1990, following a famous and much-repeated Henry Sandon valuation on BBC Antiques Roadshow, a late 17th century slipware owl jug and cover was acquired by the Potteries Museum in Stoke-on-Trent for £22,000.

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Teapots to the Kate Foster taste

12 July 2021

These two teapots – among the top-selling lots at the Woolley & Wallis (25/12% buyer's premium) sale of English and European Ceramics and Glass on June 16 – came for sale from the family of Lady Kate Davson, known to many by her maiden name of Kate Foster (1938-2020).

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Tribal highlights: mask and figure at Woolley & Wallis

28 June 2021

The best-performing lots in the tribal art sale at Woolley & Wallis (25% buyer’s premium) in Salisbury on June 8 were these two pieces: an Ibibio mask (idiok ekpo) sold at £30,000 and a Nicobar standing male figure (kareau) that brought £34,000.

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Happy birthdays for four generations

28 June 2021

An episode of BBC Antiques Roadshow filmed at Windermere and broadcast in February included this 18ct gold and pearl necklace by HG Murphy.

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