Stars of the Barrow Court Sale

Clevedon Salerooms enjoyed one of its most successful auctions in recent years with the sale of the contents of Barrow Court, Barrow Gurney on Thursday June 1st at the Kenn Road Auction Centre.

The outstanding single owner collection had been amassed over a thirty year period by the late technology entrepreneur Iann Barron CBE.

Collections of such provenance and quality are always guaranteed to create a stir when they appear on the market and Clevedon Salerooms maximised the opportunity with a dedicated printed catalogue and a co-ordinated publicity campaign in the regional and national press. This certainly proved effective, generating an unprecedented level of interestwith one keen bidder making the journey to the auction by helicopter –and strong and sustained bidding throughout the sale.

Leading the way, an outstanding carved oak and marquetry-inlaid tester bed, in the early 17th Century manner which took the day’s top price, selling for £14,000.

Also scoring highly, a very attractive Queen Anne walnut cabinet on chest, circa 1710, the upper section with ogee-arched bevelled and staretched mirror doors, which sold for £8,000.

It wasn’t just amongst the furniture that the high notes were hit. A mid-18th century oil on canvas from the Circle of Arthur Pond, of Henry and Susanna Hoare of Stourhead was the focus of a hotly fought bidding battle which saw the hammer fall well above estimate at £8,200.

A fine walnut and seaweed marquetry eight-day brass dial longcase clock by the esteemed maker John Norcot of London also performed well, selling for £6,200 whilst a brass lantern clock signed by local Chew Valley maker Thomas Veale, dated 1689 sold for £3,100.

Finally, what stately home would be complete without a suit of armour? The one offered here was in fact a modern reproduction and had been bought on holiday in Spain. Bidders clearly weren’t deterred by the lack of antiquity and our helmeted friend quickly outshone its estimate to sell for a very respectable £2,400.

With a highly impressive 98% sold and a total well above expectations, the Barrow Court sale was another resounding success for a saleroom going from strength to strength. ■

• clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)