Garden statues hidden in secret sunken garden will surface at auction this September
21 September 2020 A collection of 70 statues and sculptures will be offered at auction this month after they were discovered in a neglected sunken garden in the Cotswolds.
A detail of a terracotta copy Capitoline Flora by Pulham company estimated at £30,000-50,000.
Dubbed 'The Cotswolds Collection', the assemblage of figures had been unseen for decades and was originally put together by a Mr Perry, the owner of a garage and a roadside café with a sunken garden as its focal point near the village of Dodington, Gloucestershire.
Trading until the 1950s, the site then fell into disrepair and was fenced off. Only late last year, when the present owners decided to clear the site, did some significant objects come to light.
The items will be offered at the September 29 sale at Summers Place Auctions.
Summers Place Auctions director James Rylands says: “It’s been many years since a privately formed collection like this has come to the market. All the pieces were acquired in what is generally accepted to be the Golden Era of collecting. When we held our first sale of garden sculpture 35 years ago, this material was readily available, but now it’s a real treat to see such pieces.”
Lions
One of a pair of 18th century carved stone recumbent lions clutching the bones of their prey – estimate £30,000- 50,000 at Summers Place Auctions.
Among the expected top lots are a pair of 18th century carved lions. They have an estimate of £30,000- 50,000. View and bid for these stone lions via thesaleroom.com
Flora sculpture
A rare figure of the Capitoline Flora - a terracotta copy by Pulham company estimated at £30,000-50,000.
Also among the highlights is a rare figure of the Capitoline Flora (above top). The original statue that it is inspired by is from ancient Rome and was rediscovered in 1744. It was praised as 'undeniably one of the most beautiful draped figures in Rome'. This terracotta copy is by the Pulham company and is believed to have been a one-off commission. It is estimated at £30,000-50,000. View and bid for this Flora sculpture via thesaleroom.com
Animal Trough
A D-shaped sandstone animal drinking trough estimated at £4000-6000.
Described by James Rylands as a ‘monster’ this D shaped sandstone animal drinking trough is estimated at £4000-6000. View and bid for this trough via thesaleroom.com.
