Chorley’s


Prinknash Abbey Park, Near Cranham, Gloucestershire, England GL4 8EU
+44 0-1452-344499

About Auction House

The firm has its roots in the long established Art & Antiques division of Bruton Knowles. Since 1862 Bruton Knowles, with its headquarters in Gloucestershire, has been the Cotswolds' largest and one of the most important provincial firms in the country. Through their years of work with private clients they are also one of the oldest firms of chartered surveyors and property consultants in existence. For all of that time the Fine Art & Antiques division played a major role; handling the chattels side of clients' estates, probates, insurance valuations and house sales. In 2006, the entir...Read More
e division moved to its current saleroom and offices at Prinknash Abbey Park. Now trading under the name Chorley’s, the company has expanded into two salerooms and continues to thrive.Read Less

Auction Previews & News

2 Results
  • Venice Painting by follower of Canaletto leads Chorleys September Sale
    Auction Industry
    Venice Painting by follower of Canaletto leads Chorley’s September Sale

    Painting by follower of Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto (Italian, 1697-1768) Chorley’s September AuctionTuesday 22nd – Wednesday 23 September 2020 Venice Painting by follower of Canaletto leads Chorley’s September Sale Chorley’s Autumn country house auction, where a major painting by a follower of Canaletto goes under the hammer with an estimate of £30,000 to £40,000. The painting leads the sale, which also features the principal contents of a country house in Gloucestershire. The oil painting is entitled The Bucintoro returning to the Molo on Ascension Day, Venice/oil on canvas, 73.75cm x 125.75cm and is by a Follower of Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto (Italian, 1697-1768).  The stunning work is perhaps attributable to the British painter William James (act. 1730-1780).  On Canaletto's 1754 trip to England James was one of the legendary painter’s studio assistants, after which James continued to work in the Canaletto style selling to wealthy clients as mementos of their Grand Tour. Other lots come from a country house in Gloucestershire, which has been in the ownership of the current family for 90 years and Chorley’s September sale sees a selection of traditional country house antiques from the estate including oil paintings, furniture and decorative objects go under the hammer. Indian watercolour painted in Patna Significant and interesting lots include: • An album of Indian watercolours painted in Patna in the mid-19th Century. The album of 75 watercolours depicting tradespeople, botany, ornithology and architecture offers a vivid window into the past and is expected to fetch £6,000-8,000.   • A a pair of Anglo-Indian carved rosewood bookcases at £2,000-3,000.   • A copy of Sir Robert Atkyn’s history of Gloucestershire, a volume that is an integral element in any country house collection. An estimate of £800-1,200 reflects its condition.   • An exquisite and small gouache study of a Gyrfalcon from renowned wildlife artist and hero Peter Scott, estimate £300-500. • One amusing conversation piece is the mahogany cased water closet by S Hawkins. Stephen Hawkins applied for his patent in 1821 for this forerunner to today’s loo and this rare survival is estimated at £400-600.  • A highly…

    ArtFixDaily
  • Extraordinary Napoleonic ephemera and Marie Antoinette’s lace collar features in Chorley’s July Sale
    Auction Industry
    Extraordinary Napoleonic ephemera and Marie Antoinette’s lace collar features in Chorley’s July Sale

    Extraordinary Napoleonic ephemera and Marie Antoinette’s lace collar features in Chorley’s July Sale Auction: Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 July 2020 Viewing dates: Sunday 19 July 10am - 4pm, Monday 20 July 9am - 4pm, Tuesday 21 July 9am - 4pm Chorley’s July sale sees an extraordinary and diverse offer, for historians to bibliophiles and collectors of Napoleonic treasures through to Asian antiques. Paxford House The auction features the contents of Paxford House (the estate of Thomas Odling), including many items that have been in the family for generations and the house in Chipping Campden was in the ownership of the Odling Family for almost 100 years. Lot 1014, Collection of sailors’ valentines The most notable member of the Odling family, Sir Richard Stendale-Bennett, would have owned several of the music scores that adorned the shelves of the library, some bearing his autograph and annotated comments to the margins.  Sir Richard, Thomas Odling’s great grandfather, was an English composer, pianist, conductor and music educator. At the age of ten Bennett was admitted to the London Royal Academy of Music where he remained for ten years. By the age of twenty, he had begun to make a reputation as a concert pianist, and his compositions received high praise. Lot 1027, group of lace collars Among those impressed by Bennett was the German born British composer Felix Mendelssohn, who invited him to Leipzig. There Bennett became friendly with Robert Schumann, who shared Mendelssohn's admiration for his compositions. Bennett spent three winters composing and performing in Leipzig and whilst in England enhanced his musical career through composition, conducting and teaching at the Royal Academy, becoming one of the most respected musicians of the 19th century. Key items in the sale include: Books in the Paxford House Library which may well have been used by Sterndale- Bennett whilst editing works by the great composers of the 17th and 18th century, including the 1760 copy of The Life of Handel by John Mainwaring, £180-220.Other important books in the library include Falconry in the Valley of the Indus (1852) by Sir Richard BurtonA third edition of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in six volumes 1777, by…

    ArtFixDaily