Chinese porcelain night light to fetch £5,000 at auction

The rare piece, dating back to the Chongzhen period, is one of the highlights of Tennants Auctioneers’ Spring Fine and Asian Art Sales in Leyburn.

The auction, which will take place on March 14 and 15, will feature items from several private collections, including the property of Sir Brooke Boothby, removed from Fonmon Castle, and the selected contents of Eden Lacy, Lazonby, from the estate of Victor Gubbins.Snuff box (Image: Tennants)

The Chinese porcelain night light is part of the inaugural Asian Art Sale at Tennants, which will take place on March 14.

A similar example of the night light is currently housed in the British Museum and was part of a group of 23,000 pieces recovered from the wreck of an Asian ship in the South China Sea.

Several items were inscribed with a date corresponding to 1643, thus dating the wreck fairly accurately, and the contents of the recovered ship were sold at Christie’s in 1984.

Other highlights of the Asian Art Sale include a pair of Chinese porcelain models of recumbent deer from the Kangxi period, estimated to fetch between £2,000 and £3,000, and a Chinese porcelain “Red Cliff Visit” wine ewer and cover from the Kangxi/Yongzheng period, also estimated to fetch between £2,000 and £3,000.Spanish cabinet (Image: Tennants)

The Spring Fine Sale, on March 15, will feature a range of items from various estates, including an Italian school set of four bronze figures of classical maidens as the seasons, estimated to fetch between £1,500 and £2,000.

Another highlight is a set of twelve ornithological engravings of birds after George Edwards (1694-1773), estimated to fetch between £500 and £800.

Amongst the furniture in the sale is a joined oak dresser, late 17th century, with provenance from Sir Graham Wyllie, estimated to fetch between £1,500 and £2,000 and a George I figured burr walnut cabinet on chest, estimated to fetch between £1,000 and £1,500.

A Spanish colonial red tortoiseshell and walnut bargueño dating from the late 17th century is estimated to fetch between £1,000 and £1,500, from the estate of Victor Gubbins.

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Amongst the works of art on offer are a gold-mounted Oliva Porthyria (Tent Olive) shell snuff box from the 18th century, estimated to fetch between £800 and £1,200, and a pair of bronze figure groups representing spring and autumn, attributed to the workshop of Guillielmus de Grof (1676-1742).

Also on offer are three 17th century tapestries, including an example probably made in Beauvais depicting a crest flanked by ladies, estimated to fetch between £2,000 and £3,000, and a good selection of clocks.

Prices quoted are an estimated hammer price, which is subject to buyer’s premium of 24% plus VAT.