Chorley’s are delighted to hold a further auction of the private collection of the illustrious Sandys family at Ombersely Court, Worcestershire. Offering a more personal insight into this historical family, who amassed an extraordinary collection of furniture, paintings, rare antiquarian books and works of art over many centuries. Proceeds of the auction will go to the Sandys Trust, a charity supporting a range of charitable causes close to the hearts of the Sandys.
LOT PREVIEW
Chorley’s auctioneers are delighted to hold another auction in the series, from the private collection of the illustrious Sandys family at Ombersely Court, Worcestershire. The sale, which will take place on June 25, 2024 differs from previous auctions, as it will offer a more personal insight into this historical family, who amassed an extraordinary collection of furniture, paintings, rare antiquarian books and works of art, amongst other works, over many centuries. Particularly pertinent is that the proceeds of the auction will go to the Sandys Trust, a charity set up to support a range of charitable causes, close to the hearts of the Sandys.
The Sandys family’s connection to Ombersley stretches back many centuries. The first member of the family to move to the area was Edwin Sandys, Bishop of Worcester (1519-1588), who bought a property nearby in the 1560s, establishing a bond with the area that would last for hundreds of years. The family would go on to further pre-eminence. They are most well known for their political and ecclesiastical activities, a precedent established by the bishop himself when he survived a spell in the Tower of London for his dissenting protestant views.
The family also made important contributions to the fields of literature and culture. Edwin, the Second Baron Sandys (1726-1797), is particularly notable. He was a founding trustee of the British Museum and a noted classical scholar, counting the great literary figure Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) and the Anglo-Irish political figure Edmund Burke (1729-1797) among his circle of friends. Dr Johnson visited Ombersley in 1774 and seems to have thoroughly enjoyed his stay, commenting in particular on the quality of the peaches.
Along with Burke and Johnson, the Baron was a member of the Streatham Worthies, (a collective description for the circle of literary and cultural figures who regularly met at the home of Hester and Henry Thrale), cementing the cultural importance and influence of the Sandys family. The Streatham Worthies, including Sandys himself, were commemorated in a series of portraits by the esteemed English painter Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792).
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One of the most charming portraits in the sale is by Thomas Leigh (fl. 1634-1656) depicting a child of the Chetwynd family, aged four, full-length, in a richly embroidered green gown, a dog at his side, with a pochette and a game of table skittles on a stool beside him. This large oil, 157.5 x 112.7 cm, is dated 1637 and is a very early example of a child portrait where the child has its amusements to hand (dog, musical instrument, table skittles)
Estimate: £8,000-12,000
Ombersley Court was rebuilt in the early eighteenth century by the renowned architect Francis Smith of Warwick (1672-1738). The second phase was led by Mary, Marchioness of Downshire (1764-1836), who refaced the exterior and large areas of the interior in the early nineteenth century. For generations, the elegantly simple exterior of the house belied its luxurious contents. On the deaths of the last Lord and Lady Sandys, Ombersely Court was sold, resulting in the dispersion of a lifetime’s collection that had been passed down through centuries.
The dining room at Ombersley contained several marine scenes commemorating ancestor's participation in naval battles. These were all produced by Willem Van De Velde the Younger (Leiden 1633-1707 Westminster) and his Studio. One example is to be offered at Chorley's is “An English Fleet Running Along a High Coast in a Moderate Breeze” oil on canvas, 146.2cm x 180.3cm. The two-decker ship at the centre of this work is likely to have been under the command of Admiral Russell at one time. Candidates include the Defiance, which he captained in 1677, or the Swiftsure, of which he was captain in 1678. In old inventories of the contents at Ombersley the scene was identified as the capture of French ships by the British
Estimate: £15,000-20,000
Werner Freundel, Director at Chorley’s Auctioneers, said: “It has been an honour to be able to offer this historic collection over a series of wonderful sales, that have honed-in on different areas of the Sandys’ extensive collection. This particular sale in June will offer a more personal insight into the family, their history and collecting habits. The culmination will then follow in September, when we will offer a different aspect again, namely the Sandys’ extensive library, which features hidden gems, alongside some of the classics. It is particularly inspiring to see the proceeds go to the Sandys charitable trust, which will offer help to a range of charitable causes.”
A pair of Regency 18” terrestrial and celestial globes by the esteemed Florentine maker W & J.M Bardin (d. 1798). Bardin began making globes around 1780, having previously been a freeman of the Leatherseller's Company and of the Girdler's Company. He set up his own company in 1794 and was joined by his son Thomas Marriott (1768-1819).
Estimate: £10,000-15,000
In tandem with the auction, Chorley's Auctioneers will host the launch of Sandys archivist and historian Martin Davis' new book: House of Sandys: Fragments from the Ombersley Court Archive, providing a fascinating insight into the Sandys family and their archives.
WORCESTER NEWS: Private Ombersley Court Collection comes to Auction
COTSWOLD JOURNAL: Sandys Ombersley Court Collection to be offered
