CONTENTS OF THE SCOTTISH HOME OF THE PREMIER BARON OF ENGLAND FOR SALE AT BONHAMS EDINBURGH
‘MARCUS’ HOME OF LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON
The contents of Marcus, in Angus, the Scottish shooting lodge and country home of the 27th Lord Mowbray and 21st Lord Stourton, are to be sold at Bonhams Edinburgh on 29 November.
The family title was created in the late 13th century and is the third oldest barony in the Peerage of England. Lord Mowbray and Stourton can trace his ancestry from Geoffrey de Mowbray, an adviser to William the Conqueror. Another ancestor was one of the barons who forced King John to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215. The Mowbray Barons become Premier Baron of England when the only older title, that of the Barony of de Ros (created by writ in 1264) is held by a woman.
The contents of Marcus are being sold on behalf of Lord Mowbray and Stourton and the Hon James Stourton.
Miranda Grant, Bonhams Managing Director in Scotland comments: ‘This wonderfully eclectic mix of items could only have come from one of the most distinguished families in Britain. We are delighted to be handling the sale.”
The sale features a number of important pictures including a striking 17th century portrait of Henry, 3rd Lord Arundel of Wardour and Keeper of the Privy Seal, in armour, by the British painter John Michael Wright. It previously hung in Allerton Park in Yorkshire, the Mowbray family’s main seat. Henry was a great survivor. Having fought for Charles I in the English Civil War, he sat out the latter years of the Cromwell era in France only to return to serve with distinction in the courts of both Charles II and James II. He spent six years in the Tower of London having been falsely accused by Titus Oates of plotting treason against Charles. The portrait is estimated at £8,000-10,000.
A remarkable and rare pair of 18th century Worcester vases decorated in the Soho workshop of James Giles, is also for sale. No source prints for the design have been found and the figures on the vases – Europeans in Oriental dress – do not appear on any other objects from Giles’s workshop. Although the flower painting on the vases is typical of mid period Giles, the figures are believed to have been executed by a painter who had previously worked for the rival Chelsea workshop and was drawing on his experiences there. Estimate £6,000 to £8,000.
Among the hundreds of fascinating items in this sale are the Coronation robe and coronet worn by the 24th Lord Mowbray and 21st Lord Stourton at the Coronation of Edward VII in 1902. The coronet is decorated by six pearls stamped with a lion passant indicating the rank of Baron and the crimson robe is overlaid by an ermine cape with two rows of sealskin spots also showing that it is to worn by a Baron. The robe and coronet are estimated at £800-1,200. Other coronation robes are also included in the sale including that of Lord Deramore (estimate £1,000-1,500).
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.
