Age of Oak Continues

19th March 2025

“While there is a growing interest in the Tudor period, sparked by the television dramatisation of historical novels by authors such as Hilary Mantel, connoisseurs and high-level collectors still seek out and cherish early and unusual pieces dating from the time of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.” Mark Yuan Richards, Furniture, Works of Art and Clocks specialist.

Woolley and Wallis’ recent partnership with oak specialist David Houlston, bringing with him a high level of expertise and broad client base, was borne out by a lively inaugural oak sale in January with strong bidding and the view attended by the country’s leading oak collectors and national museum curators. Our second Age of Oak sale in April includes equally fascinating and unusual lots, most consigned from private collections.

“Forming the core of our second specialist Age of Oak sale on 9th April is the Bruce and Margaret Howard collection, offering a broad selection of furniture and works of art from the 12^th century onwards.” Mark says.

As schoolboy, Bruce Howard created a small museum in a shed at his home to house his eclectic collection of objects. His passion for antiques eventually led to a career as an antiques dealer and in the early 1970’s, Bruce and his wife Margaret took over an antique shop in St Ives (Huntingdon). As the business grew, the couple relocated to Cambridge and started to specialise in Oak and country furniture with Treen, pottery and metalware becoming a focus of interest too. Bruce would spend hours visiting museums and researching items he had purchased to increase his knowledge, while Margaret managed the shop. In their retirement they continued to deal mainly at antique fairs and were regular exhibitors at Harrogate, Buxton the NEC in Birmingham and at the Olympia fair in London.

Key pieces in the Howard collection fetched strong prices in the April auction. Lot 26, a rare French late medieval iron casket, 15^th century sold for £3,276*, Lot 50, an alabaster figure of the Virgin and Child, probably Nottingham, circa 1400 and later sold for £3,150*, Lot 68, a rare and documented Welsh oak clamp front chest from the Welsh borders sold for £17,640*, 16^th century, Lot 45. a large medieval elm figure of St Fiacre, possibly English early 15th century sold for £15,750* and lots 198 and 203, a Charles II stumpwork mirror c. 1670 and hunting scene c. 1660-1670 sold for £4,788* and £3,528* respectively (*all prices are inclusive of buyer's premium).

Full result listings for April The Furniture, Collections and the Age of Oak sale are available on our website.