Strong Demand for George III Furniture in Roseberys’ First Fine & Decorative Auction of the Year

Roseberys’ first Fine & Decorative sale of the year delivered exceptional results across multiple categories.

VIEW RESULTS 

Lot 284: A pair of George III mahogany serpentine front chests, third quarter 18th century
Price Realised: £31,440

George III furniture performed particularly strongly, with results far exceeding expectations and reaffirming continued interest in historic British furniture. A pair of 18th century George III mahogany serpentine-front chests achieved £31,440, realising more than fifteen times their pre-sale estimate. It is rare to find a pair of serpentine chests, especially with serpentine sides as well as fronts. In understored condition, with beautiful patination, the pair were strongly competed for by the trade.

Defined by the Chippendale style, Neoclassical influences and a sense of practicality, Georgian furniture from the reign of King George III (1760–1820) is increasingly favoured by today’s collectors and decorators, particularly for its ability to seamlessly fit within contemporary interiors.

A rare 19th century George III teak cabinet, with unusual folding doors, similarly achieved over fifteen times its estimate, while an 18th century 9-inch terrestrial table globe by William Bardin exceeded expectations, achieving £7,872 and £2,099, respectively. The Bardin family were among the foremost globe makers in 18th and early 19th century London, notably collaborating with mathematical instrument maker Gabriel Wright between 1780 and 1782, and incorporating the latest discoveries from Captain Cook’s voyages into their work.

Lot 164: Six Minton pâte-sur-pâte ivory and white ground tea cups and saucers, retailed by Tiffany & Co. of New York, c.1930s
Price Realised: £7,216

Minton pâte-sur-pâte porcelains, retailed by Tiffany & Co. saw sustained interest throughout the sale. A group of works signed ‘R. Bradbury’ for Richard Bradbury, including plates, coffee cups, tea cups and saucers, attracted consistent bidding across five lots with a hammer total of £25,584. Active between 1927 and 1939, Bradbury was among the last artists at Minton to work in this intricate technique before joining the Royal Air Force. Introduced to Minton in the 1870s, the laborious pâte-sur-pâte method has long been prized by collectors. In 2025, Roseberys set a record price of £18,368 for a Minton porcelain Vaisseau à mât ship vase.

Lot 79: A late Victorian half hull model of S.S German Union steam ship, late 19th century
Price Realised: £7,216

Maritime models also performed robustly. Two Victorian ship models drew competitive bidding; a late Victorian half-hull model of the steamship S.S. German “Union” fetched a price of £7,216, more than ten times its pre-sale estimate. Built by British shipbuilders William Denny & Brothers of Dumbarton, the vessel was commissioned by the Union Steam Ship Company, a leading shipping line serving the Southern hemisphere during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, transporting both merchants and passengers.

Lot 103: A collection of approximately 200 glass lantern slides relating to aviation and the flights of Francis Lombardi (Italian, 1897-1983), early 20th century
Price Realised: £1,050

A set of previously unseen Italian aviation memorabilia and glass lantern slides relating to Carlo Francesco “Francis” Lombardi (1897–1983), a key figure in Italian aviation during the first half of the 20th century, commanded attention. The group of work offers compelling insight into early aerial photography and innovations.

Lot 426: A large Turkish Oushak carpet, first quarter 20th century
Price Realised: £3,674

Finally, there was strong demand for early 20th century Turkish Oushak rugs. Examples of this scale and quality are becoming increasingly scarce in good decorative condition and are particularly sought after for their softly faded palettes and large-scale Ottoman-inspired designs suited for modern interiors.