Dorset family treasures soar to success at auction

Two Netherlandish pictures, a carpet and a suite of Dorset furniture formerly housed at Creech Grange near Wareham until its sale by the Bond family in 1975, went under the gavel in Somerset.

Each of the pictures had been on loan to the Dorset County Museum and drew keen enquiries from across Britain and abroad.

Lawrences Auctioneers director Richard Kay said: “The appealing combination of quality, rarity and good provenance always attracts collectors.

“We were delighted to offer a dramatic scene of Christ falling on the road to Calvary, attributed to Frans Francken the Younger, a Flemish painter who flourished in the early 17th century.”

Christ falling on the road to Calvary by Frans Francken the Younger. Picture: Lawrences Auctioneers

The painting sold for £6,250 at auction.

Greater interest was shown in work by Cornelis de Man and Jacob van Spreeuwen, two Netherlandish artists who worked in the middle of the 17th century.

The small oil by van Spreeuwen depicted the artist seated at an easel. This was surrounded by a separate picture by de Man which showed cherubs disporting.

A catalogue also showed the picture on the drawing room wall at Creech Grange, photographed for Country Life in 1931. Research by a Dutch art historian confirmed the attribution and the art work caused intense and prolonged bidding – culminating in a sale of £156,250.

Feraghan Mahal carpet from West Iran. Picture: Lawrences Auctioneers

In addition, a Feraghan Mahal carpet from West Iran, circa 1890 was bought for £22,500. A George II walnut settee and six side chairs, ascribed with near certainty to John and William Bastard of Blandford Forum sold for £20,000.

Fellow auction director Anthony Kilroy said: “The local connections, matched with fine quality and condition, caught the eyes of discerning buyers. We were delighted to be able to refer to good historical background and scholarly research in order to achieve these terrific results.”