January Fine Furniture Auction

14th January 2026

Mapping the globe

Leading the charge in the January Fine Furniture auction is a wonderful pair of William IV celestial and terrestrial 18 inch library globes by Charles Smith & Sons, circa 1830-1840, which are in very good untouched condition Lot 82. The publishing firm of Charles Smith & Son was founded in 1799 and initially started selling maps. In fact, Charles Smith advertised himself as ‘engraver to the Prince of Wales’ but competition with the Cary company likely led to the addition of globes.

Venetian splendour

The practice of decorating furniture with contrasting inlays was used by the craftsmen of Ancient Egypt and continued to flourish during the Medieval period in Islamic cities such as Cairo and Damascus, where dense patterns were created using tiny inlaid pieces of bone or ivory and various woods. The technique was adopted in both Spain and Italy, particularly Venice, from about 1450, and was used on boxes and chests like the North Italian example in our sale dating from the late 15^th and early 16^th century (Lot 34). References in Italian 16th-century inventories to chests ‘alla veneziana’ (in the Venetian style) may refer to this style of decoration. Similar examples can be found in the V&A Museum and at Polesden Lacey, cared for by the National Trust.

Grand tour antiquity

Classical influence is represented by the late 18^th, early 19^th century Italian marble model of the Warwick vase (Lot 104) in the manner of Lorenzo Bartolini (Italian 1777-1850). The original ‘Warwick Vase’, a colossal marble vase measuring nearly six feet high and dating from the 2nd century AD, became one of the most celebrated pieces of antiquity. Excavated in 1770 from a lake at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli, the vase was acquired by Sir William Hamilton, antiquarian and Ambassador to Naples and was later sold to the Earl of Warwick who installed it on the grounds of Warwick Castle.

Taxidermy Tea Party

Walter Potter, the Victorian taxidermist, is known for his whimsical dioramas featuring small animals such as kittens, rabbits, squirrels, and birds enacting uncannily human scenes. He began creating his playful taxidermies aged 15, eventually opening the Walter Potter Taxidermy Museum in 1880 in Bramber, Sussex, which enabled him to capitalise upon the Victorians’ enthusiasm for the macabre. Over time these curiosities fell out of fashion and the collection was auctioned and dispersed in 2003, with many tableaux now belonging to private collectors worldwide.

Lot 215. A rare late Victorian taxidermy red squirrel tea party is attributed to Walter Potter (1835-1918) and dates to circa1880-90.

Belle Époque style

In an age of elegance, travelling light was an anathema to the upper classes. Reminding us of this bygone era are two, early 20^th Louis Vuitton, monogrammed and fully fitted, trunks. (Lots 217 and Lot 218)

A precious commodity

The sale also includes 'A connoisseur's collection of caddies' (lots 155-192) assembled over the past five decades. This distinguished collection of over thirty tea caddies and chest includes exquisite tortoiseshell examples and a rare marquetry example attributed to Mayhew & Ince, representing the pinnacle of 18th-century cabinetmaking.

Furniture specialist Mark Yuan-Richards said; "We are delighted to have assembled an exciting sale of antique furniture and unusual collectable items. With its breadth, quality and depth, this auction promises to please seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts alike."

The Fine Furniture auction took place on Tuesday 20^th January 2026, beginning at 10am.