Old Masters mix with Modern art in one of the earliest New Year auctions

While coronavirus restrictions mean the public cannot attend sales, online bidding technology allows them to be held via the internet.

“Thankfully we have been busy over the past couple of months, having seen strong interest and high prices at our auctions showing both buyer and seller confidence in the market,” said Richard Bromell of Charterhouse in Sherborne. “The January auction has an eclectic selection to say the least, with Old Master to Modern pictures along with Mid-century furniture, ceramics, antiques and interiors.”

The pictures, prints, books, maps and decorative arts, and Mid-century modern selection is offered on the 7^th, followed by Beswick, antiques and interiors on the 8th.

Here are five highlights from the Charterhouse auction on January 7-8.

Fishing for a possible Guercino

Among the Old Masters is this a wash drawing of a fisherman near a bridge (pictured top). From a Dorset farmhouse, this drawing is attributed to Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Guercino (1591-1666), and is estimated at £400-600.

View this drawing attributed to Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as Guercino, via thesaleroom.com.

Madonna of the Goldfinch

After Raphael (1483-1520), Madonna Del Cardellino, more commonly referred to as the Madonna of the Goldfinch – estimate £600-1000 at Charterhouse on January 7-8.

An old copy of Madonna Del Cardellino, more commonly referred to as the Madonna of the Goldfinch, by Raphael (1483-1520), is estimated at £600-1000. It comes from a Dorset deceased estate.

Check thesaleroom.com to see this old copy of Raphael’s Madonna Del Cardellino.

Penny for your thoughts

Edwin Penny, study of a Hobby Hawk - estimate £100-200 at Charterhouse on January 7-8.

However, if Old Master pictures are not your bag then there is plenty of Modern art to choose from in the auction.

Three watercolour drawings by Edwin Penny, removed from the walls of a Somerset country house, depict beautifully detailed drawing of birds of prey. Penny, born in Bristol in 1930, was an accomplished 20th century artist who painted from memory.

Each picture is estimated at £100-200. Shown here is the Hobby Hawk.

To bid for these watercolour drawings by Edwin Penny visit thesaleroom.com.

Lenkiewicz portrays Elaine

Robert Oscar Lenkiewicz (1941-2002), a portrait of Elaine Armstrong – estimate £1000-1500 at Charterhouse on January 7-8.

Also from Somerset, from in a house near Taunton, is a painting by Robert O Lenkiewicz (1941-2002). Lenkiewicz was one of the south-west England’s most celebrated artists of modern times and also one of its most controversial artists. The Charterhouse oil painting of Elaine Armstrong is estimated at £1000-1500.

View thesaleroom.com to see the oil painting of Elaine Armstrong by Robert O Lenkiewicz.

Pick a tulip

Mid-century modern Arkana Tulip dining room suite – estimate £300-500 at Charterhouse on January 7-8.

Elsewhere in the auction, a selection of Mid-century modern furnishings ranges from Danish furniture to Arkana, Ercol, Ladderax and G-Plan.

Most of this furniture comes to Charterhouse from West Country deceased estates where the style was the height of fashion when new. It then fell into the non-chic but functional category during the 1980s-90s, and has now regained its cool-looking interior appeal in the 21st century.

Pictured is an Arkana Tulip dining room suite estimated at £300-500 – you can bid via thesaleroom.com.