Dreweatts 1759 | Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art in collaboration with Watts 1874

Dreweatts

Donnington Priory

Oxford Road

Newbury, Berkshire

RG14 2JE

United Kingdom

This is a live online auction. There is no pre-auction competitive bidding. Click “Important information” for more details on registration & bidding.

This year, Dreweatts is delighted to unveil a new collaboration with Watts 1874, the fifth-generation family firm renowned for its exceptional fabrics, wallpapers and murals. As part of this partnership, selected pieces from our Fine Furniture and Works of Art auctions will be thoughtfully paired with Watts 1874 textiles to create elegant room settings, offering fresh inspiration throughout our catalogues | Find out more

View page turning catalogue

Charles I: A King's Legacy | Auction Highlights | Find out more

Mar 24, 2026 10:30 AM GMT

Lots: 1-279

Mar 25, 2026 10:30 AM GMT

Lots: 280-602

Mar 20, 2026 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM GMT

Mar 21, 2026 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM GMT

Mar 22, 2026 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM GMT

Mar 23, 2026 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM GMT

Mar 24, 2026 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM GMT

Mar 25, 2026 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM GMT

Auction currency	GBP
Buyer's premium	27 % (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 QUEEN ANNE OLIVEWOOD OYSTER AND WALNUT CROSSBANDED CHEST OF DRAWERS, CIRCA 1710

Lot 34

A LARGE BAROQUE CARRARA MARBLE WINE CISTERN, ENGLISH OR ITALIAN, LAST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY

Lot 89

A FINE REGENCY POLYCHROME DECORATED CABINET, CIRCA 1815

Lot 137

ISIDORE-JULES BONHEUR (1827-1901), A RARE BRONZE 'LE JEU DE POLO', CAST BY HIPPOLYTE PEYROL

Lot 228

A WILLIAM IV MAHOGANY EXTENDING DINING TABLE, BY JOHNSTONE, JUPE & CO., CIRCA 1835

Lot 263

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

‡ A SCALE MODEL SHIP OF 'THE SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS', EARLY 20TH CENTURY

325

Quantity

1

0 GBP

Opening bid

4,800 GBP

Buy it now price

0 GBP

Max bid

GBP

Estimate

8,000 - 12,000 GBP

‡ A SCALE MODEL SHIP OF 'THE SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS' EARLY 20TH CENTURY Constructed of wood, string for the lines and cloth for the sails, partially painted and gilded the model 145cm high, 170cm wide, 63cm deep overall including the plinth and plexiglass case 232cm high, 195.5cm wide, 84.5cm deep Provenance: The Collection of Walter Harper, Oakhill Manor, UK Purchased from Langford's Marine Antiques, London Sotheby's New York, Old Master & 19th Century European Art (N08611), 29th January 2010, Lot 796 ($20,000 incl. BP) This model has been identified as a representation of one of the most famous ships ever built, the "Sovereign of the Seas," which was built for, and named by, Charles I as a deliberate attempt to bolster the sovereignty of the English crown. While other nations, such as the Dutch, regarded the seas as open and free for trade (mare liberum), Charles I sought to revive the ancient right of British kings to be recognized as "Lords of the Sea." Charles regarded this exorbitantly expensive first-rate, triple-deck ship as the jewel of his empire. The Sovereign of the Seas was launched at Woolwich Dockyard on 13 October 1637. It was the most extravagantly decorated warship in the Royal Navy. Even the Royal Painter, Anthony van Dyck, was said to have a hand in its design. Nothing was spared. The gilding alone cost 6,691 pounds, which was the price for an entire warship at the time. Total construction costs came to 65,586, which was likely the single greatest expenditure from the royal purse for the remainder of the 17th century. The decks sported a total of 102 covered bronze cannons, weighing a total of 155.9 tons, not including the substantial weight of the gun carriages. The Sovereign of the Seas was a thorn in the side of the Dutch navy, and in 1652 the Dutch States General proposed a reward for crews of fireships that would manage to burn her down. The specifically determined that the grand prize for the destruction of the Sovereign of the Seas would be the enormous sum of 3,000 guilders, enough to buy a townhouse in Amsterdam at the time. Despite being in regular service during all three of the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the Dutch never succeeded in sinking her. She survived the Dutch Raid on the Medway in 1667 and went on to fight in the Battle of Beachy Head (1690) and the Battle of La Hogue (1692). In the latter struggle Admiral Edward Russell was instrumental in bringing about a victory. Russell commanded two fleets of 82 strong, and they managed to destroy 15 ships of the French fleet, thereby ending for good the French threat to England's dominance of the seas. After all these victories, the Sovereign of the Seas met an ignominious end, when in 1697 she was burnt to the water line as a result of having been set on fire by an accident. Apparently, a lowly bosun left a burning candle unattended. He was flogged and imprisoned for life for his mistake.

VIEW & BID

Please enter your max bid

Auction date(s): Mar 24 - Mar 25

Lot location: Newbury, Berkshire