The Cotswold Collection auction is a chance to purchase unique items from a collection started in the 1920s. Mr Perry had created not just a garage but a ‘go to’ destination to sell motor cars near the village of Dodington in the Cotswolds. The garage and cafe set in an incredible garden achieved his dream. He filled the garden with sunken gardens, statues, urns, seats, lichen and moss covered troughs and staddlestones. He acquired tases treasures while travelling in the Cotswolds and the West Country and at country house sales. This was a time when large country houses were being demolished following the Great War. And over the many years that followed he continued to add to his collection. There is now a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase some of these items. Just a few are listed below.
 
Cotswold stone lion gargoyle, signed by the sculptor and dated 1833 (lot 59), and the set of six finials, (lot 58) which was bought from The Rocks, a massive country house in Marshfield which was demolished in the 1950’s. Lot 58: Auctioneers estimate is £6,000 to £10,000. Lot 59: Auctioneers estimate is £20,000 to £30,000.
 
Life size terracotta figures on pedestals of the classical deities, Diana, (lot 53), auctioneers estimate £15,000 to £25,000 and Flora (lot 27) auctioneers estimate is £30,000 to £50,000, by the celebrated Victorian and Edwardian makers J. M. Blashfield and Pulham. Also attributed to Blashfield is a possibly unique dolphin fountain and surround, (lot 26), auctioneers estimate is £6,000 to £10,000.
 
Marble figure of Hebe (lot 64) circa 1830 after Canova. One of the originals was created for Chatsworth House, where it still stands today. Lot 64: Auctioneers estimate is £20,000 to £30,000.
 
One item which particularly caught my eye was the Austin and Seeley composition stone greyhound. Felix Austin went into business in 1828 having bought moulds from a firm that had gone out of business. He established works in New Road, London, describing himself variously as an architect, statuary mason and sculptor as well as artificial stone maker. His material was not the same as the ceramic body used by Mrs Coade but made from Portland cement, broken stone, pounded marble and coarse sand (The Builder 1868). However, like Mrs Coade, he encouraged leading architects and designers to work for him. Around 1840 he entered into partnership with John Seeley. Seeley had trained at the Royal Academy Schools and also made an artificial stone which he called artificial limestone, before entering into partnership with Austin. In 1841 they published their first catalogue, Pleasure Grounds etc. from their address in New Road. The preface begins, 'Austin’s Artificial Stone is of a light tint, requires no painting or colouring, will not sustain injury from the severest winter, and, being impervious to wet, is particularly applicable to all kinds of water works. Its superiority is now so thoroughly established, that the most eminent architects and scientific gentlemen have expressed, in their highest terms, their approbation of its durability, and close resemblance to the real stone'. Lot 41: Auctioneers estimate £500 to £800
 
Summers Place, The Cotswold Collection. Lots 1 to 77
Tuesday 29th Sept, 2020, 1pm
 
Summers Place are also holding Garden & Natural History auctions on 29th and 30th September 2020. Just a few items are listed below.
 
A pair of substantial and rare carved sandstone double-sided architectural boot scrapers. Reputedly removed from Ashway Gap House, near Oldham in the Peak district. Built around 1850 in a Neo-Gothic style by the MP John Platt as a shooting Lodge. John Platt, together with James his brother, were both MPs and partners in Platt Bros. & Co. a highly respected textile machinery company based in Oldham and founded by their father Henry. James was tragically killed in a shooting accident in 1857. Lot 100: Auctioneers estimate £2,000 to £4,000
 
A rare Handyside foundry cast iron fountain, circa 1870. Andrew Handyside started the foundry in 1806 and by 1851 the firm had expanded and operated out of the Britannia Iron Works, Derby. At the Great Exhibition they exhibited Medici vases, a bacchanalian vase and a bronzed vase decorated with busts of Peel, Nelson, Watt, Wellington, Stephenson, Scott, Shakespeare and Milton, and a fountain. At the time, the foundry was described as being, 'from the magnitude of its operations is second to none in England'. Lot 136: Auctioneers estimate £2,500 to £4,000

A rare Val d’Osne foundry cast iron fountain 2nd half 19th century top mounted by a figure of a putti after Mathurin Moreau. Various elements of this fountain are included in the Val d’Osne catalogue including the centre section of the fountain and the cast iron figure after Moreau on the top. The Val d’Osne foundry produced a huge array of garden artefacts and in the case of fountains quite often different elements were combined to make different styles of fountain. Lot 138: Auctioneers estimate £6,000 to £8,000
 
A rare reeded Regency wrought iron games seat, early 19th century. Provenance: The Alistair Morris collection. Usually games seats which incorporate a set of wheels at one end also have a hinged footrest to prevent ladies getting their crinoline skirts wet. This example never appears to have had one and would have been wheeled around the garden to view whatever sport was being played. Lot 150: Auctioneers estimate £800 to £1,200
 
A carved Portland stone keystone carved in high relief with a Hermes mask, circa 1900. Sealed Bid Auction. Lot 207: Auctioneers estimate £200 to £400
 
Summers Place, Home & Garden. Lots 100 to 172
Tuesday 29th Sept, 2020, 2pm
 
Summers Place, Home & Garden. Sealed Bid Auction. Lots 200 to 507
Sealed bids by 4pm BST, Wednesday 30th Sept.
 
Summers place Auctions, The Walled Garden, Stane Street, Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 9AB
For Sat Nav, RH14 9AD.
 
Viewing is strictly by prior appointment. Further details see the link below.
 
Summers Place Auctions is a Salvo Code member.