AN UPPER-crust attic sale will feature Regency furniture, 18th century paintings, and even a set of armour.
The treasures from the attic of Capesthorne Hall, near Macclesfield, are being sold with contents from three other historic houses.
More than 800 lots will be auctioned in the Christie's classic country house sale on July 17 and 18 at Gyrn Castle, North Wales.
From the loft at Capesthorne, home of the Bromley-Davenport family, come a number of paintings acquired during the Grand Tour, an institution started in the 18th century when the young gentry travelled from England to Paris and Italy to provide them with an education and leadership qualities.
They include a set of eight gouaches - water colours with an opaque finish - of Italian classical buildings and landmarks by Giuseppe Giampedi, estimated to be worth é8,000 to é12,000.
The sale also features a striking portrait attributed to James Ward and Sir William Beechey of Leopold I, King of the Belgians, on a grey charger (estimate: é25,000-é40,000).
James Ward (1769-1859) was better known as an animal painter, making his name with cows. Sir William Beechey (1753-1839) earned his living as a society painter.
The furniture in this section reflects the wide ranging tastes of the family and includes a pair of Regency ormolu-mounted and brass inlaid low bookcases (é8,000-é12,000) and a pair of painted canvas four-fold screens (é20,000-é30,000). An English Pikeman's armour, circa 1640 (é3,000-é3,500) completes the selection of items from this historic attic.
Altogether, é1m is expected to be raised from the sale of the treasures from Capesthorne, Gyrn Castle, home of the ship-owning Bates family and two other Welsh country houses, Nantlys , home of the Pennant family , and Mostyn Hall, home of the Mostyn family,
Gyrn Castle was acquired by the prominent ship owner Sir Edward Bates in 1856 as a country house based close enough to Liverpool for him to continue managing and expanding his business. The sale at Gyrn follows the recent death of his descendant Sir Geoffrey Bates.
Apostles
Among the contents offered are an extremely unusual group of late 15th or early 16th century carved wood figures of apostles, The Gyrn Apostles, about two feet high. Four are probably Netherlandish and the other eight are either English or Welsh. They are being sold as five separate lots with estimates ranging from é2,000 to é25,000.
Two magnificent French salon paintings by 19th century painter Auguste Bonheur, brother of Rosa Bonheur, also feature. The larger of the two, La Sortie du Paturage, 1860 (é30,000-é50,000) depicts a rural scene of a farmer driving his cattle to market, while Le Combat; Souvenir des Pyrenees, 1862 (é20,000-é30,000) shows a bullfight set in a dramatic backdrop high in the Pyrenees.
Other furniture highlights include a Regency mahogany extending dining table, circa 1825 (é15,000-é20,000).
Nantlys was built in the early 1870s for a branch of the great Welsh antiquarian family of Pennant, with successive generations adding contents from other houses through marriage and inheritance.
Items being offered from this house include a Regency mahogany breakfront bookcase, possibly by Gillows (é20,000-é30,000), and a mid-Victorian giltwood and gilt-composition specimen marble-topped centre table (é15,000-é25,000).
Portrait
A late 19th century painted rocking horse (é300-é500) also features as well as a strong group of family silver including a Victorian silver soup tureen, cover and liner, mark of John Samuel Hunt, London, 1849 (é3,000-é5,000). Paintings include a family portrait of Peter Pennant, English School, 18th century (é3,000-é5,000).
Like Gyrn Castle, Mostyn Hall overlooks the Dee Estuary.
The house has been the home of the Mostyn family since the 15th century and part of the accumulated attic contents are being offered in the sale.
Among the paintings is a late 17th century Dutch landscape by follower of Jacob Grimmer entitled A Frozen River Landscape with Cottages and Figures (é3,000-é4,000) and a number of family portraits. Among the furniture highlights are a Welsh oak tridarn, early 18th century (é2,000-é4,000) and an early George III mahogany writing table (é5,000-é8,000).
More unusual items from this house include a rhinoceros trophy head, circa 1900 (é500-é1,000).
The contents of the sale will be on view at Gyrn Castle from Friday July 14 until Sunday July 16
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