At a country sale (conducted by Messrs. Robinson and Fisher, of London) at Bradfield Hall, near Reading, of the property of the Connop family, the following bids (as reported in the Times) were made and accepted: - Two remarkably fine old "Chippendale" state elbow chairs, with open-work backs and exquisitely carved lions' heads terminating the arms, "cabriole legs," with lions' heads on the "knees," and a covering of fine old English silk needlework, were bought for 780 guineas by a dealer, who was said to have re-sold them shortly afterwards for 1000 guineas - a good day's work! A large "Chippendale" state easy chair, elaborately carved, and bearing the arms of the Barrington family, the seat, back, and elbows covered in old tapestry, realised 205 guineas. A similar chair, gilt, and upholstered in red velvet, was sold for 105 guineas. A set of six chairs, with mahogany frames, and finely carved open-work backs, decorated with scrolls and leaves, realised 93 guineas. At another sale, held at their own rooms, the same firm of auctioneers sold another set of six carved mahogany "Chippendale" chairs, with pierced backs and carved "cabriole legs," for £108. (The same set cost the owner by whose instructions they were "put-up," the magnificent sum of .£6.)

"Chippendale." XI. Plate 42

Reference In Text

Some very interesting and genuine old "Chippendale" furniture came to the hammer at the sale of the contents of Longstowe Hall, Cambridge, held under the conduct of Messrs. Grain, Moyes, & Wishey, of Cambridge; several arm-chairs realised, even in so remote a place, from .£10 to 10 guineas a piece; and a mahogany bookcase, five feet nine inches long, with projecting centre, brought £30, by no means a high price. At the Egmont Sale, in London, of the furniture removed from Cowdray, Midhurst, Sussex, one set of three "Chippendale" chairs, covered in damask, sold for 23 guineas; another, consisting of six "small" chairs, the seats covered in figured leather, and two arm-chairs to match, together realised a total of just over £53.

At "Christie's," some time ago, two exceptionally fine "Chippendale" cabinets, seven feet high by four feet long, with carved mouldings and legs, and open gallery above, each having three glazed doors, were sold for 230 guineas, while, at the same sale, twelve very ordinary torcheres, fifty-five inches high, of mahogany and satinwood, in the form of tripod altars, and carved with festoons of drapery, acanthus foliage, and similar detail, brought 44 guineas. Finally, the sale of some of the property of the late Mr. John Hargreaves, of Maiden Erleigh, near Reading (held by Messrs. Walton and Lee, of London) comprised a quantity of choice "Chippendale," including a six feet carved mahogany table, with marble top (faulty), which sold for £28, and a mahogany cabinet, four feet wide, with glazed front and sides, and quaintly designed open top for china, which sold for £128. At the same sale, one of the greatest bargains of late years was secured in a beautifully carved "Chippendale" suite from the ball-room, upholstered in tapestry of a Persian pattern, which comprised six "small" chairs, a pair of armchairs, and a settee, five feet six inches long, and was knocked down for .£50. Four comparatively commonplace carved mahogany chairs fetched £7.

It will be remarked from the foregoing that prices vary vastly according to the locality in which sales are held, the class of buyers present, and more particularly the absence or presence of sharp dealers. At many a country auction, attended only by villagers, I have seen fine old pieces "go" for a few shillings, which, had they been sent to "Christie's," or had one or two London dealers been present, would have been sold at very high prices.