The late Anthony and Judith du Boulay

We are honoured to have been instructed to sell the private collection of the late Anthony and Judith du Boulay. Anthony was a leading authority on Chinese porcelain, but he had the “eye” of a true connoisseur and a passion for pieces that he found to be beautiful - from an early St. Cloud vase to an Old Master of the Madonna.

Our auction on the 8th March presents an opportunity to acquire a treasured possession from the du Boulay’s home in Dorset.

Viewing

Saturday 4th March 9.30am - 12pm

Monday 6th - Tuesday 7th March, 9.30am - 5pm

From 9am the day of the Auction

Catalogues

By post £30 (including postage)

Order a catalogue

Fully illustrated online catalogue

Bidding

Live bidding will be available for this auction through our website, the saleroom and Easylive. Please ensure your registration is completed early to avoid disappointment. Commission bidding and telephone bidding is also available.

ANTHONY DU BOULAY

Anthony joined Christie's in 1949 and initially worked on the front counter. This gave him a practical education in all things sold at auction  and this excellent foundation enabled him to move to on to the furniture department. In 1956 he was appointed Head of the Porcelain Department, which covered all ceramics. He became a Director in 1963 and in 1965 he handed over the running of the European Ceramics department so that he could concentrate on Chinese ceramics, which had become his chief love. He became President of Christie's Geneva in 1967 and set up their saleroom in New York in 1976. Latterly, he spent two years in Paris. 

After retiring from Christie's in 1980, Anthony became Honorary Adviser on Ceramics to the National Trust of England and Wales in 1981. Between 1981 and 1983 he was given the fascinating job of separating items of national importance left to the nation in lieu of inheritance tax from those either given to the National Trust, or still owned by the family. 

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

ATTRIBUTED TO VINCENZO CHILONE (1758-1839),

The Piazza St. Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, a Pope and a Doge appearing to the people on a balcony, and the companion painting of the Gateway to the Arsenal, oils on canvas (2)

60cm x 78.5cm

Provenance: Acquired at Christie’s New York, 11th November 1978

£30,000 - £50,000

A RARE ST. CLOUD SOFT PASTE VASE,

circa 1695-1700

15.5cm high

Provenance: Jules Desurmont, catalogue no. 824. probably bought from Madame Recher in 1931, Bernard Dragesco, June 2010

£10,000 - £20,000

A LOUIS XV GOLD-MOUNTED LACQUER BOITE-A-MOUCHES,

Paris 1760

60mm

Provenance: Christie’s Geneva 8th May 1979, lot 65

£2,000 - £4,000

JOOS VAN CLEVE AND STUDIO (fl. 1511-c.1541),

The Madonna of the Cherries,

oil on panel,

78cm x 55cm

£15,000 - £25,000

A PAIR OF GEORGE III MAHOGANY LIBRARY ARMCHAIRS,

68cm wide

Provenance: One from the collection of the Hon. Stephen Tennant, Wilsford Manor, Wiltshire.

Acquired at Sotheby’s auction on the premises, 15th October, 1987, Lot 185 the other from Richard Courtney. Acquired at the BADA Antiques Fair, March 2004

£10,000 - £20,000

A MALTESE WALNUT AND MARQUETRY BUREAU CABINET

circa 1750

inlaid with the armorial of the Knights of Malta

217cm high x 104cm wide

Provenance: Acquired in Malta circa 1926, and thence by descent.

£5,000 - £10,000