Dreweatts 1759 | Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art in collaboration with de Gournay

Donnington Priory

Newbury, Berkshire

RG14 2JE

United Kingdom

This is a live online auction with auctioneer. For details on registration, bidding, viewing & condition reports, click “Important information” link.

Our Spring auction of Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art on, marks the start of an exciting seasonal collaboration with de Gournay, the celebrated creators of luxurious hand-painted wallpapers and hand-embroidered wallcoverings. Discover more more via the links below!

View page turning catalogue

Dreweatts x de Gournay | A Calendar of Colour... read more!

Top Picks from de Gournay co-founder, Dominic Evans-Freke... read more!

Mar 26, 2025 10:30 AM GMT

Lots: 1-310

Mar 27, 2025 10:30 AM GMT

Lots: 311-661

Mar 21, 2025 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM GMT

Mar 22, 2025 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM GMT

Mar 23, 2025 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM GMT

Mar 24, 2025 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM GMT

Mar 25, 2025 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM GMT

Mar 26, 2025 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM GMT

Mar 27, 2025 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM GMT

Auction currency	GBP
Buyer's premium	26 % (exc. Sales tax)
Accepted cards for registration
Accepted cards for payment
Other payment methods

Register to bid

Terms & conditions Important information

Ask a question Download Catalogue View Catalogue

A FINE WILLIAM & MARY OLIVEWOOD 'OYSTER' VENEERED AND FRUITWOOD CROSSBANDED CHEST OF DRAWERS

Lot 1

A QUEEN ANNE GREEN LACQUER AND GILT JAPANNED MIRROR, CIRCA 1710

Lot 36

A GEORGE III CARVED MAHOGANY OVAL WINE COOLER, AFTER DESIGNS BY ROBERT ADAM, CIRCA 1790

Lot 133

A FINE GEORGE III MOSS AGATE & HARDSTONE MOUNTED CASKET, CIRCA 1760 OR 1770 AND LATER

Lot 181

A REGENCY SIMULATED ROSEWOOD, PARCEL GILT AND PAINTED CHAIR BACK SETTEE, CIRCA 1815

Lot 266

Featured lot Provisionally sold Leading Won Outbid Lost Declined Reserve not met Leading

A RARE SULPHIDE PORTRAIT BUST OF GEORGE WASHINGTON BY DESPREZ, FRENCH, EARLY 19TH CENTURY

115

Quantity

1

0 GBP

Opening bid

900 GBP

Buy it now price

0 GBP

Max bid

GBP

Estimate

1,000 - 1,500 GBP

A RARE SULPHIDE PORTRAIT BUST OF GEORGE WASHINGTON BY DESPREZ FRENCH, EARLY 19TH CENTURY The polished glass medallion with bust of Washington facing to his right, the back of the bust marked "DESPREZ", the whole of circular sunburst form with pointed edge and ribbed back, floral gilt bronze suspension mount and loop, in later glazed case the sulphide 10.5cm diameter, the case 24 x 21cm Provenance : By family descent from the Crane and Van Duzer families in New York. Barthélemy Desprez (fl.1773-1819) was a chemist and the chief modeler at the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres until approximately 1792. He pioneered the creation and invention of sulphide portraits in France- a process which was continued with his son Desprez Jnr. and brought to England by Apsley Pellatt (1791-1863). From the likely dating of this example it is very difficult to determine which may have been responsible for the creation of it. It is possible that this portrait is derived in part from a print after Jean-Antoine Houdon's marble bust of Washington executed 1785-1792. One such likely source is Joseph Wood's portrait after Houdon engraved by William Satchwell Leney and published by Joseph Delaplaine in Philadelphia in 1814, an example of which is held in the Royal Collection (RCIN 618879). It would seem that this sulphide was originally created possibly as one of a pendant pair of similar sunburst form- the other modelled as Benjamin Franklin looking to his left. An example of the Franklin portrait is held in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery (1927X https://npg.si.edu/object/npg_1927X) but misattributed to the French sculptor Louis Desprez (1799-1870). At the time of cataloguing no comparable sulphide depiction of Washington has been found- an example of the pendant Franklin sulphide was sold as part of lot 699- Brunk Auctions, Asheville, North Carolina, Important Private Collection from Boston, 12th November, 2022 ($3,000 excl. BP). Condition Report: With mild wear, marks, knocks and scratches as per age, handling, use, and cleaning. With inclusions and glass flaws from manufacture and various small chips around outer edges- gilt bronze suspension looks to be original, Currently stored in glazed box with retailers label for D B Butler & CO, Madison Ch ambers New York. Although the box is good for display- the brass pin mounts around it are not foam protected making removal and transport of the piece in/from the box liable to cause chips. Please see additional images for visual references to condition which form part of this condition report. All lots are available for inspection and Condition Reports are available on request. However, all lots are of an age and type which means that they may not be in perfect condition and should be viewed by prospective bidders; please refer to Condition 6 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers. This is particularly true for garden related items. All lots are offered for sale "as viewed" and subject to the applicable Conditions of Business for Buyer's condition, which are set out in the sale catalogue and are available on request. Potential buyers should note that condition reports are matters of opinion only, they are non-exhaustive and based solely on what can be seen to the naked eye unless otherwise specified by the cataloguer. We must advise you that we are not professional restorers or conservators and we do not provide any guarantee or warranty as to a lot's condition. Accordingly, it is recommended that prospective buyers inspect lots or have their advisors do so and satisfy themselves as to condition and accuracy of description. If you have physically viewed an item for which you request a report, the condition report cannot be a reason for cancelling a sale. Buyers are reminded that liability for loss and damage transfers to the buyer from the fall of the hammer. Whilst the majority of lots will remain in their location until collected, we can accept no responsibility for any damage which may occur, even in the event of Dreweatts staff assisting carriers during collection. Condition Report Disclaimer

VIEW & BID

Please enter your max bid

Auction date(s): Mar 26 - Mar 27

Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire