Ted Few: An Idiosyncratic Eye at auction
08 March 2021 ‘Idiosyncratic’ is the word often used to describe the taste and stock in trade of Ted Few. More than 400 lots from the well-known dealer come for sale at Roseberys London this month.
An English horn mounted treen snuff box, dated 1714 – £300-400 at Roseberys
Established in business in 1975, Few – a member of the UK trade associations BADA and LAPADA and a regular exhibitor at major London art and antiques events – is well-known for his ‘cabinet-of-curiosities’ displays that bring together artworks as varied as modern British pictures, treen, folk art and formal sculpture. It is these period ‘mash-ups’ that today have become the zeitgeist of interior decoration.
Few is among a number of well-respected dealers who have chosen to sell at auction at a time when fairs and shops have been closed and face-to-face trading difficult. Ted Few: An Idiosyncratic Eye is the title of a sale at Roseberys London on March 24. The 421 lots represent a cross-section of Few’s sometimes quirky taste with prices ranging from the eminently affordable (plenty of lots are estimated at under £100) into the low thousands.
Two order of battle manuscripts from the War of Austrian Succession – £800-1200 at Roseberys.
These ‘order of battle’ manuscripts worked in ink and body colour reference battles in the War of Austrian Succession. Each details the hierarchy of the commanding officers in the campaign and the composition of the armies. They have a provenance to the Royal House of Hanover, Munich.
One is dated 1743 for the Battle of Dettingen (June 17, 1743) fought between a Pragmatic Army, composed of British, Hanoverian and Austrian troops, and a French army commanded by the Duc de Noailles. The Allied army was nominally commanded by George II making Dettingen the last time a reigning British monarch led troops on the battlefield. Estimate £800-1200.
A 17th or 18th century Swedish burr birch kallskal – £300-500 at Roseberys.
This 17th or 18th century Swedish kallskal made in burr birch with bone mounts carries an inscription to the cover suggesting a royal provenance.
In ink is written Donné par le Roi Charles XV a Ulriksdal Vaisselle de Campagne de Gustave Adolphe 12 Aut 1863 – a reference to the Ulricksdal royal palace, north of Stockholm, acquired in 1856 by Prince Charles, later King Charles XV. During his reign the palace was used as his preferred summer residence and furnished extensively with antiques.
The mention of Gustave Adolphe perhaps refers to Gustav IV Adolph, king of Sweden from 1792-1809.
Estimate £300-500.
Ashtead Pottery Christopher Robin nursery tea set c.1928 – £300-500 at Roseberys.
Two years after first Winnie the Pooh book was published in 1926, the Ashstead Pottery created this nursery teaset printed with various characters illustrated by EH Shepard.
The first complete set was given to the Duke and Duchess of York when they visited the pottery in 1928 with the second set was given to AA Milne’s son, the original Christopher Robin.
Today they are among the most desirable wares made by the Surrey pottery. Estimate £300-500.
An early Victorian painted pine chest of drawers – £150-250 at Roseberys.
Also on offer is an early Victorian pine chest of drawers c.1840 painted to simulate maple with faux tortoiseshell handles. Estimate £150-250.
Oil on canvas by Gerald Reitlinger – £300-400 at Roseberys.
Gerald Reitlinger (1900-78) is best known as an art historian and art collector, and specifically the author of the important three-volume work on the history of collecting The Economics of Taste (1961-70).
However, he was also a practicing artist. This oil depicts figures in a classical interior, possibly the Villa Farnese, Caprarola. Estimate £300-400.
An English horn mounted treen snuff box, dated 1714 – £300-400 at Roseberys
Horn mounted treen snuff boxes such as this are associated with the late 17th and early 18th century. Many contain personal messages.
This one, dated 1714, is inscribed to the cover If You Love Lend Me Not JM 1714. Estimate £300-400.
