Lot 476 , An early 18th century red walnut stool, W.1ft 6in. D.1ft 2in. H.1ft 4in.
**An early 18th century red walnut stool, with drop-in seat and scroll carved cabriole legs with pad feet, W.1ft 6in. D.1ft 2in. H.1ft 4in.
Estimate £300-400
5% Import duty will be charged on the hammer price.
The Beaulieu House Collection, the estate of John Bedford Esq. Removed from St Peter's Port, Guernsey
John Bedford of William Bedford was one of the major dealers in antique furniture in London in the 1970s and for the next 35 years dominated his corner of the trade.
The business was started in the 1960s simply to help his brother William recover from an illness, with a small stall in the Kensington Antiques Hypermarket selling antique glass, while John continued in his role as company secretary at Smith's Industries.
Buying was fitted in at the weekends and evenings by John around other commitments.
After a relatively short time it was found that the furniture used on the stand for display purposes sold more profitably than the glass and a decision was made to take a much larger premises in Upper Street, Islington, and concentrate on period furniture.
John now took up the full-time role of running an antiques business with the skills and approach of a 'true businessman', driving the operation forward into what would become one of the first publicly quoted antiques businesses on the stock exchange.
It operated out of the 15,000sq ft of The Merchants Hall in Islington.
Dealers from across the world would find this often became a one-stop shop for their purchases, allowing them to shorten buying trips to the UK often by weeks.
John was always a kind, cultured and generous man with wide-ranging interests from motor racing to building one of the finest private libraries in the world covering cabinet-makers and furniture designers to the brass-makers of Birmingham.
Overall of a good rich reddish brown tone, numerous surface scuffs and scratches throughout commensurate with age, some relatively recent, others much older, the scroll motifs to the top of each leg all have varying degrees of chipping and damage including some losses, tip of one leg has been replaced at the top, and there is a further old repair to the tip on another leg, pad feet scuffed again commensurate with age, it is recommended that you view photographs from all four sides to see the full condition.
Drop in seat is a good tight fit and has 20th century upholstery.
Descriptions provided in both printed and on-line catalogue formats do not include condition reports. The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Interested bidders are strongly encouraged to request a condition report on any lots upon which they intend to bid, prior to placing a bid. All transactions are governed by Gorringes Conditions of Sale.
Sold for £1,000