Day one of Dreweatts’ Spring Sale on April 16-17 at Donnington Priory in Newbury contains a selection of decorative art pieces spanning the Aesthetic period through to 20th century modern design.
Included are three lots of ivory and bronze figures by the leading German Art Deco sculptor Ferdinand Preiss (1882-1943). Sonny Boy and Hoop Girl, two 8in (21cm) high cold painted bronze and ivory figures on green onyx bases, each engraved F Preiss, are estimated together at £1500-2500.
dreweatts.com or see this item on thesaleroom.com
A Rangers football medal won more than 100 years ago will lead a sale of sporting medals and trophies at Glasgow auction house McTear’s on April 26.
The 15-carat gold Scottish Football League Championship medal was awarded to Rangers midfielder Joe Hendry after the team topped the league in the 1910-11 season.
Hendry made his Rangers debut on April 23, 1910, going on to play 147 times for the club, scoring seven goals in his eight years there. The medal has been consigned by Hendry’s grandchildren and is estimated at £2000-3000.
The French firm Maison Bontems – regarded as ‘the father of the modern singing bird boxes’ – is the likely maker of this late 19th century automaton above.
Presented in the original velvet and silk lined fitted case complete with winding key, the c.1890 box is believed to be model number 11: the most popular of Bontems’ range of singing boxes.
Bontems revolutionised the singing bird box, simplifying the movement and making improvements to the quality and realism of the bird song. The company exhibited in several worldwide universal expositions and fairs where it was awarded a total of 43 medals and supplied a number of royal households throughout the world.
The box is estimated at £3000-5000 in a sale of jewellery, silver and watches at Cheffins of Cambridge on April 11.
cheffins.co.uk or see this item on thesaleroom.com
An earthenware dish designed by Pablo Picasso at the Madoura Pottery in Vallauris is among several pieces of Picasso ceramics to be included in Chiswick Auctions’ sale of Ceramics & Glass on April 30 in west London.
Colombe sur lit de Paille of a dove on a straw bed comes from a limited edition of 300 and is inscribed CR / Madoura / edition / Picasso in black script and impressed Madoura Plein Feu and D’Apres Picasso. The dish is estimated at £3000-5000.
Picasso designed 633 different ceramic editions between 1947-71, both variations of one type as well as unique pieces, including plates, bowls, vases and other forms. These limited editions ranged from 25-500 pieces and were produced and sold by Suzanne and Georges Ramié, owners of Madoura Pottery.
