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One of a set of 12 bird pictures by Samuel Dixon to be sold at Christie's. (click on image to enlarge)
A set of 12 Irish George II embossed bird pictures by Samuel Dixon c1755 is a highlight at Christie’s 500 Years of Decorative Arts Europe sale in London on September 23. In black and gilt-japanned frames each is printed with a dedication on the reverse.
The paintings depict a red and blue macaw, a grey-finch and wax bill, with dedication to the Countess of Carrick and inscribed `Left hand of Wall 7′, blue, red and green macaw, Indian redstart and a sparrow of paradise, with dedication to Lady Castlecomer and inscribed `Right of the Mirror 9′, chaffinch perched upon a branch, with butterflies, convolvulus, snowdrops and other flowers with dedication to the Countess of Meath goldfinch perched upon a branch, with a honeysuckle, ranunculus, peony and other flowers, with dedication to the Duchess of Dorset, summer duck, red-billed whistling duck and shells, with dedication to the Countess of Hillsborough and inscribed `Sam Jones Pauls Snr’ and numbered `2′, Indian bee-eater, black and white Indian starling and a Brazilian finch, with dedication to Lady Howth, black-billed whistling duck, purple water-hen and corals, with dedication to the Countess of Antrim and inscribed `Right over chimney’ and `Pauls Churchyard, London’, white-headed parrot, with grapes and vine leaves, with dedication to the Countess of Kildare, canary-bird and wasp among anemones, polyantheus, hyacinths, tulips and jessamin, with dedication to the Countess of Cork, cock butcher-bird above a floral still life of roses, poppies and ranunculus with dedication to the Duchess of Hamilton, bullfinch, blue titmouse and a red admiral, with peaches and apricots, with dedication to the Countess Dowager Kildare and inscribed `Over the Mirror 8′, and green-winged dove perched on a stump and a cock and hen red-throated humming bird at nest with dedication to Lady Molesworth and inscribed `… LONDON’
The estimate for the lot if 10,000-15,000 sterling. They are among a election of 50 British and Irish embossed bird pictures from a 150 piece private collection by Samuel Dixon, Isaac Spackman and William Hayes in a sale of over 300 lots.