Our October 2020 auction of The Contents of Beal House achieved a fantastic selling rate of 98% with over 2,080 bidders joining the sale online from across the globe. The fine and eclectic contents from Beal House were amassed by the late Ian Stewart, a businessman who lived and worked in both the UK and the Far East. He had a keen and lifelong passion for art and antiques and bought Beal House, in the 1990s to house his ever-growing collection, which he continued to add to right up until his death in 2019.
“We have certainly seen the ‘house sale effect’ in action here over the last two days, with almost everything finding new homes, some great bidding battles and incredible prices being paid!" said Gavin Strang, Managing Director & Head of Sale. "The overall total hugely exceeded our presale expectations and I think is testament to the late Ian Stewart’s eye for good things which have stood the test of time.”
LOT 79 | MARY BEALE (BRITISH 1633-1699) | HALF LENGTH PORTRAIT OF A LADY IN BLUE ROBES HOLDING HER LONG HAIR
oil on canvas | 76cm x 61cm (30in x 24in) | Sold for £10,000 incl premium
The auction included everything you might expect from the eclectic contents of a traditional English country house, such as 18th and 19th century furniture and furnishings, decorative Asian ceramics, portraits and figural sculptures, as well as an array of garden statuary and ornaments.
Owners of the collection said "The Stewart family wishes to thank Lyon & Turnbull's directors, staff and contractors for an outstanding result on the sale of our house contents. Everything was handled with the sensitivity and respect befitting a difficult time, having lost a much-loved husband, father and grandfather."
LOT 176 | GEORGE III MAHOGANY TWIN PEDESTAL DESK | LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY
The auction was lead by a portrait by the first successful female British artist, Mary Beale (British 1633-1699), with Beale's Half Length Portrait of a Lady achieving £10,000* and Allan Ramsey's Portrait of Mrs Ralph Freman selling for £10,000*. The more unusual and interesting items in the sale included a bronze figure titled ‘The Education of Achilles’ which sold for £6,875*, a George III Mahogany Partners Desk also sold for £10,000*. A George II style sofa sold for £9,375* and a group of four painted fans sold for £5,000*, a bronze armillary, which stood at the entrance to Beal House, sold for £2,500*.
