A Royal Saxon town coach is among the more eye-catching lots in a sale at Christie’s, South Kensington on April 30. European Noble and Private Collections celebrates the collecting traditions of dynasty’s across Europe. Lots on offer include Old Master and 19th century paintings, furniture, European and Chinese works of art and porcelain, books, tapestries and silver. Leading the sale is the town coach made by Royal coachbuilder Carl Heinrich Gläser (1831-1903), commissioned by the Royal House of Saxony, bearing the family’s coat-of-arms.
The auction features lots from the descendants of HRH Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria, Infante of Spain (1884-1958); The Blair Charitable Trust, removed from Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Scotland; Lord Baden-Powell; The Royal House of Saxony, House of Wettin A. L. (Albertine Line); the Descendants of Don Mariano Maldonado y Dávalos, 7th Count of Villagonzalo (1851-1901) and The Collection of HRH Prince Henry, The Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974). The wedding veil pictured was worn by Infanta María Teresa of Spain on her wedding to Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria, which took place in the chapel of the Royal Palace of Madrid on January 12, 1906.
A ROYAL SAXON BRASS-MOUNTED PARCEL-GILT AND BLACK-PAINTED TOWN COACH
BY CARL HEINRICH GLÄSER (1831-1903), DRESDEN, CIRCA 1870 (£20,000-40,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.
Swords presented to Major General Baden-Powell (1857-1941), founder of the scouting movement, in recognition of his role during the Siege of Mafeking (ranging in estimate from £1,000 to 10,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.
A SET OF TWELVE FRENCH CUT AND OVERLAY GLASS ‘SULPHIDE’ ARMORIAL DISHES
LATE 19TH CENTURY (£1,000-1,500). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015.
A BELGIAN NEEDLE AND BOBBIN LACE TEAR-SHAPED WEDDING VEIL
BRUSSELS, CIRCA 1860 (£3,000-5,000). Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2015