Press release
777KB
L17317 Two Great Scottish Collections 28.3.17
284KB
march 31, 2017 - Sotheby
London Sale of 'Two Great Scottish Collections' Triples Estimate to Bring £3.8 Million
Two Great Scottish Collections
Property from the Forbeses of Pitsligo and the Marquesses of Lothian
Soars to £3.8 Million Total
3x Pre-Sale Estimate
SIXTEENTH-CENTURY SCOTTISH RENAISSANCE JEWEL
“The Fettercairn Jewel”
Discovered last year in the library at Fettercairn House and
thought to protect the wearer from lightning bolts and the plague
Acquired by National Museums Scotland
LONDON, 31 MARCH 2017 – This week at Sotheby’s in #london, fervent interest in the history of Scotland saw collectors out in force, eager to acquire items from two remarkable collections which each tell the story of an important family steeped in the nation’s past: the Forbeses of Pitsligo, tastemakers rooted in 18th-century Edinburgh, and the Marquesses of Lothian, an ancient and noble lineage. Over 1000 participants drove the sale total of Two Great Scottish Collections on 28 March to £3,799,077 ($4,768,981), over three times the pre-sale estimate (£1.2 – 1.76 million), with successful bids fielded from eight institutions.
The star of the sale was the Fettercairn Jewel – a 16th century virtuoso enamelled gold pendant set with an almandine garnet on the back – which was acquired by National Museums Scotland. This unique piece of Scottish history sparked a battle between bidders on the telephones and in the saleroom, driving the final price to £236,750, a figure far exceeding the pre-sale estimate of £30,000-50,000.
Harry Dalmeny, Sotheby’s UK Chairman, said: “These two collections provoked intense bidding throughout a marathon sale which lasted nine hours and saw a steady stream of auctioneers take to the rostrum. We’re thrilled to have been able to share with both collectors and public alike, through such rich content, as many revelations about the history of Scotland as about the families who assembled them over nearly four centuries.”
David Macdonald, Sotheby’s Specialist in charge of the sale, commented: “Though both collections recently made the journey from Scotland to #london for the auction, it’s lovely to think that many of the items will make the journey back home again, especially the Fettercairn Jewel. The response from private collectors, not only Scottish but from all over the world, has been extraordinary, and the fact that a number of institutions were able to secure works was a fitting conclusion to what has been a unique celebration of all things Scottish.”
Lot 426 Sevres green-ground dejeuner
5344x4008, 8MB
Lot 413 Frankenthal barber's bowl
5138x3854, 8MB
Lot 310 Sir Thomas Lawrence, Portrait of Sir William Forbes
7878x8744, 28MB
Lot 309 Baronet's Badge of Nova Scotia
4459x3345, 4MB
Lot 224 The Fettercairn Jewel (back)
2066x2966, 1MB
Lot 224 The Fettercairn Jewel
2032x2903, 1MB
Lot 157 James Boswell ring
1031x1351, 2MB
Lot 114 Portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart
4643x5498, 8MB
Lot 108 Scottish broadsword, detail
1083x1567, 657KB
Lot 108 Scottish broadsword
2953x3771, 3MB
Lot 59 Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion
4008x5344, 2MB
Lot 26 Pair of Marble Vases
4247x5669, 2MB
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