Henry Hammond of Keys Fine Art Auctioneers previews some stunning antique furniture which goes under the hammer in the firm’s Summer Fine Sale next week.

Perhaps it is a reflection of how much more time we spent in our own homes during lockdown, but the past few years have seen a dramatic upturn in demand for good quality antique furniture in the saleroom, after a prolonged period when wooden furniture in particular had fallen out of favour.

In a county like Norfolk, where there is a considerable number of period properties, we shouldn’t be surprised that people are seeking pieces of furniture which suit their Georgian or Victorian homes. What is more striking is how many people are putting antique pieces in more modern homes, seeking perhaps to inject some character into the modern aesthetic.

Henry Hammond of Keys Fine Art AuctioneersHenry Hammond of Keys Fine Art Auctioneers (Image: Newman Associates PR)

Either way, prices for antique furniture are definitely on the up – the number of lots we are seeing consigned to our Summer Fine Sale next week reflecting this. Fine Sales are where an auction house places the very best lots – whether in terms of value, interest or rarity. At Keys, these translate into our thrice-yearly Fine Sales, which stretch over three days.

One very handsome example is a French Louis XVI walnut veneered Bombe commode chest with three pine-lined drawers fitted with elaborate brass handles and escutcheons. It was purchased from a chateau in Nancy in eastern France in the early 20th century and has been in the same family ever since. It goes under the hammer at Keys next week with a pre-sale estimate of £1,500-£2,500.

A Georgian mahogany bachelor’s chest with an estimate of £2,000-£2,300A Georgian mahogany bachelor’s chest with an estimate of £2,000-£2,300 (Image: Keys Auctioneers)

Georgian furniture is particularly popular, largely because its generally modest dimensions fit well in most homes today. 

Next week’s sale has a Georgian mahogany bachelor’s chest in the Chippendale manner. As the name suggests, these chests were a practical and useful piece of furniture for bachelor’s bedroom apartments, serving both for storage and as a writing desk, and generally compact enough to fit into small spaces. The example in our Fine Sale has an estimate of £2,000-£2,300.

A Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson wardrobe with an estimate of £1,500-£2,500A Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson wardrobe with an estimate of £1,500-£2,500 (Image: Keys Auctioneers) The carved mouse on the Mouseman wardrobeThe carved mouse on the Mouseman wardrobe (Image: Keys Auctioneers)

Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson (1876-1955) was a quirky British furniture maker based in Yorkshire, his work largely inspired by the Arts and Craft movement led by William Morris.  He gained his nickname because pretty much every piece he ever made featured a carved mouse. 

It is thought the idea of including a carved mouse on every piece came after someone called him ‘as poor as a church mouse’ early on in his career. He wouldn’t think that if he knew how much his work sells for at auction today!

We have several Mouseman pieces in next week’s sale, including a wonderful oak wardrobe (complete with carved mouse climbing up the side) which has a pre-sale estimate of £1,500-£2,500.

A Qing dynasty hardwood opium bench estimated to sell for £500-£700A Qing dynasty hardwood opium bench estimated to sell for £500-£700 (Image: Keys Auctioneers)

A more unusual piece of furniture is a Chinese Qing dynasty hardwood opium bench with carved panels and scrolled decoration, which has its own bolster cushions and removable seat cushion.

The Qing dynasty lasted from 1636 until 1912; this piece is from the later part of that period. As the name suggests, it would have been used as a seat on which to smoke opium. It has an estimate of £500-£700.

Keys’ three-day Summer Fine Sale takes place on Wednesday, July 24, Thursday, July 25 and Friday, July 26. For full details, please visit keysauctions.co.uk