OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
IN MY OPINION...
The sale includes a number of items of Wisbech interest. A rare George III enamel nutmeg grater, painted with flowers and inscribed A Trifle from Wisbech, has a pre-sale guide of £200£300, while a rare, late 18th-century oil on board painting depicting a view of the church of St Peter and St Paul, Wisbech, is expected to make £500£800. The painting, which highlights the the church tower’s clock movement, includes figures on a road identified as Church Terrace with The Duke’s Head pub (today the Duke’s Steakhouse) just visible on the far right.
We asked Sworders’ director Guy Schooling for his sale highlights What makes the collection so special?
The size and quality, especially the emphasis on East Anglia and the Fens. The collection includes a large quantity of fine, early 19th-century drinking glasses, many with lemon squeezer bases, walking sticks, including a fine example, possibly belonging to the Emperor Napoleon; furniture; silver; jewellery; decorative items and books.
Does Sarah Biffin’s work deserve to be better known?
RUMMER SHOW Glass from Crofts’ collection includes a rummer relating to the Enclosure Acts, the series of laws which enclosed open fields and common land across the country. The large drinking glass (left) is engraved with details of a hearing held in Norwich on August 7, 1817, relating to the Smallburgh Inclosure Act, in which a “Mr Robert Joy” won a case against the “defendants who wish’d to deprive him”. A rare survivor of the era, it is estimated to make £400-£600 in the December sale.
AUCTION fact file WHAT: The Peter Crofts collection, part of the two-day fine interiors sale When: December 14-15 Where: Sworders, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8GE Viewing: and online at www.sworder.co.uk
Definitely. There is growing interest in her work in contrast to that during her lifetime, when she was exhibited as a freak. There is increasing interest in female artists, quite rightly, and she is among the most extraordinary of them all. Two similar works sold in new York recently for approximately £17,000 and £21,000, while other works have previously sold for below £1,000. Watch this space.
Have you got a favourite piece from the Croft collection?
Aside for the watercolour by Sarah Biffin, I like one of the more affordable pieces, namely a delightful imperial harp shell box, probably 18th century, mounted with silver and gold, which is expected to fetch £200-£400 (below). I also like a 19th-century French silver and mother-of-pearl box, carved with Biblical scenes, including the Three Kings, Rebecca at the Well and Sampson and Delilah.
Any local favourites?
With an estimate of £200-£300, the George III enamel nutmeg grater inscribed A Trifle From Wisbech ’, with a jewelled border and pink ground, is a delight and would make a great Christmas gift.
Where are you expecting interest to come?
East Anglia, America and the rest of the world. Top The handbill
‘Born with the congenital deformity phocomelia, Biffin taught herself to write, paint and hold scissors using her mouth. From the age of about 13, she earned £5 a year touring the country as part of Emmanuel Dukes’ travelling show’
advertises Miss Biffin as a great genius and an admirer of the fine Arts Above Antiques dealer Peter Crofts became a double amputee aged 20 Above left A George III nutmeg grater inscribed A Trifle from Wisbech is expected to make £200-£300 Right An imperial harp
shell box has an estimate of £200-£300
ANTIQUE COLLECTING 63
