A Cumbrian auction house is celebrating after a world record was set for a Percy Kelly painting which went under the hammer in its saleroom.
Red Bridge Near Aspatria was sold for £7,200 at Mitchells in Cockermouth.
The 21cm x 26cm oil on board painting in a gilt frame was the highest selling lot in Mitchells’ three-day Antiques & Fine Art Sale last week.
In 2023, Kelly’s charcoal drawing The Road from West Newton to Allonby sold for £6,200.
Kelly was born in 1918 in Workington. He later became sub-postmaster at Broughton Moor in the 1950s, before moving to Allonby in 1958.
At Mitchells, other valuable artwork sold included an Edward H Thompson (1879-1949) watercolour of Crummock and Buttermere which made £1,100.
Mitchells is inviting more entries of paintings by EH Thompson for inclusion in its December sale to coincide with the launch event of a new biography about the Lake District’s most prolific painter, written by Charles Nugent.
Gold jewellery, silverware and sovereigns also dominated the top 25 highest selling lots in the sale, in particular a 9ct yellow gold Cuban bracelet set with 3.62 carats of natural diamonds which made £4,600 and a pair of 18ct white gold stud earrings set with 4.02 carats of natural diamonds sold for £4,500.
An Elizabeth II 2020 sovereign five coin set in its presentation box made £4,500 and a George III silver cutlery set totalling 58 pieces sold for £2,900.
One of the biggest surprises in the sale was a rare Wedgwood Agricultural Devices pattern part tea service painted with emblems of agriculture which was presented to Arthur Young (1741-1820) by The Empress of Austria.
The Wedgwood had been estimated at £350 but eventually sold for £1,800.
Other sale highlights included an 18ct gold diamond and ruby floral spray brooch which made £500.
Antique furniture included a William IV well figured rosewood centre table sold for £420 and a mid century Nathan teak sideboard, fitted with cupboards and drawers which exceeded its £250 to £350 estimate making £480.
Notable collectors’ items included a vintage Mont Blanc Hemingway fountain pen which made £700 and a 19th century monocular microscope by H Crouch London in a mahogany case with accessories and specimen slides which sold for £240. A large Chinese hardstone horse figure measuring 56cm in height made £160.
What’s next at Mitchells?
Mitchells next major sale will be the Autumn Country Sporting Sale from Wednesday October 22 to Friday October 22.
Entries are now open for the next Antiques & Fine Art Sale in December.
Entries are also invited for Mitchells Vintage & Antique Toy Sale in February.
Free valuation at Mitchells
If you have something you think might be valuable and want to find out what it’s worth, Mitchells 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 i[email protected]. Contact Mitchells on 01900 827800 to arrange your free valuation.
