Cumbrian auctioneer Mitchell’s is celebrating one of its best sales for years after it made £435,000.
Seven artworks by LS Lowry made a total of £117,600 in the Antiques & Fine Art Sale, which also included a private collection of gold and silver coins sold for a total £127,000.
The highest selling Lowry artwork was an oil on board depicting a Cumbrian coastal scene, signed and dated 1961, which reached a hammer price of £43,000.
The painting was among a small collection of artwork gifted by the artist to his friend Graeme Bentham which also included a typical Lowry street scene with church spire with characteristic figures sold for £25,000 and a pencil head and shoulders portrait of a gentleman with moustache, likely to be Bentham himself, which made £3,000.
From another vendor was a pencil drawing by Lowry, Maryport – The Estuary signed and dated 1960, which sold for £37,000.
Mitchell’s head of antiques & fine art James Moore said: “This pencil sketch is a fantastic example of Lowry’s work and a very recognisable view which helps account for the high price achieved.”
A private single owner collection of 233 lots of gold and silver coins belonging to a retired doctor from the South Lakes was also sold.
The entire lifetime collection made £127,000, with the highest selling lot being a Golden Jubilee Monarchs 22ct gold five coin set from East Caribbean States which sold for £9,200.
The sale also included two artworks auctioned in aid of The Mountain Heritage Trust at Threlkeld.
A very large oil on canvas painting of Scafell Crag by the renowned mountain artist Julian Cooper, which used to hang in the atrium at Rheged, near PPenrith, made £7,000 and a painting of Birkness Combe by the climber and artist Bill Peascod (1920-1985) sold for £5,000.
One of the biggest surprises in the sale was a silver plated jug by Christopher Dresser which had been given an estimate of only £50 to £80 but eventually sold for £4,300.
Mr Moore added: “The sale was simply amazing with some very high quality lots on offer which sold extremely well.
“We felt very proud to be entrusted with the sale of such a fine collection of Lowry paintings and drawings as well as the single owner collection of gold and silver coins and the vendors are delighted with the results. What a great way to end the year!”
Entries are now open for Mitchell’s next Antiques & Fine Art Sale From March 26 to March 28.
Contact James Moore on 01900 827800 to consign items for sale. Entries are also invited for Mitchell’s Vintage & Antique Toy Sale on Thursday February 13. Contact David Lomas on 01900 827800 for a free, no obligation valuation.
If you have something you think might be valuable and want to find out what it’s worth, Mitchell’s offer free valuations by appointment at its Cockermouth saleroom and home visits by arrangement, including in the South Lakes and Furness.
Alternatively, you can email your valuation request and photographs to [email protected]. Contact Mitchell’s on 01900 827800 to arrange your free valuation.
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