At Manor Clearance, we know that remarkable discoveries can be found in the most unexpected places. Every property we visit has its own story, and our role is to recognise items that deserve closer attention before they are consigned to an antique auction house.
A recent valuation in a large Victorian home in South West London demonstrated exactly why experience matters. What initially appeared to be an unassuming painting, propped against a kitchen table after previously hanging on a wall, went on to become the star lot at Wimbledon Auctions, achieving a final selling price of £130,000, including buyer’s premium, and setting a new house record.
How Was The Painting Discovered?
The painting came to light during a routine valuation carried out as part of our house clearance service. Paul Cassar of Manor Clearance recognised that the small oil on panel warranted further investigation before it was sent to an antique auction house. Measuring 15.75 by 11.25 inches (40 x 28cm), including its distinctive rounded frame, the work was identified as a copy of a famous but now-lost portrait by the renowned Flemish artist Rogier van der Weyden (c.1399-1464).
Although it had belonged to the vendor’s mother for many years and had become part of the furniture of the home, its quality suggested to us that it deserved a closer look.
Why Was The Portrait Historically Important?
The painting depicts Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (1396-1467), a man given the epithet ‘Good’ due to his reformative work and patronage of the arts. The original portrait, painted around 1440-1450 by Rogier van der Weyden, is considered the best-known image of the Burgundian ruler.
Philip is shown wearing the distinctive collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, an order of chivalry he founded in 1430. Although the original portrait has long since disappeared, its composition survived through several workshop versions and later copies created by other artists to satisfy demand. Today, examples can be found in prestigious collections including the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon and the Royal Collection, underlining the significance of this enduring image.
Why Was More Research Needed?
When the painting was first considered for auction, it was expected to sell for between £1,000 and £2,000. However, after a detailed examination by our antique valuer Paul Cassar, it became clear that additional research would be required to establish whether this was a much earlier example than we originally thought.
Rather than rushing the painting to an antique auction house, Wimbledon Auctions commissioned specialist Ian Tyers to undertake dendrochronological analysis of the oak panel.
What Did The Scientific Analysis Reveal?
The dendrochronological analysis produced remarkable results. It established that the Baltic oak panel originated from a tree felled around 1496, placing the work much earlier than first anticipated. Even more significantly, researchers discovered that the panel had been cut from the very same tree used to produce another important early sixteenth-century painting now held by the Society of Antiquaries of London.
That work, an imaginary portrait of Charlemagne (768-814) by an unknown artist, formed part of a group of twenty-five panel paintings bequeathed to the Society in 1828 by Thomas Kerrich. Further evidence emerged when specialists noticed that the reverse of the Philip the Good panel bore the same distinctive ‘N’ letterform found on several other paintings within the Kerrich group, including a portrait of François I, King of France, along with other depictions of notable historical figures.
How Old Was The Painting?
Taking into account the preparation, seasoning and construction of the oak panel, specialists concluded that the painting dated from approximately 1510-1530. For a work of this age, it remained in encouraging condition.
Although there was some overpainting around the figure and areas of flaking on the right-hand side, the most significant details, including the face and hands, had survived particularly well. These findings transformed perceptions of the work, elevating it from what had been considered a later decorative copy into an important early sixteenth-century interpretation of one of Northern Europe’s most celebrated portrait compositions.
Why Did Collectors Respond So Enthusiastically?
Following the research, the painting was catalogued as ‘after Rogier van der Weyden’ and entered the Wimbledon Auctions sale with a revised estimate of £30,000 to £50,000.
Wimbledon Auctions noted that the panel was ‘contributing to our understanding of how van der Weyden’s celebrated portrait compositions continued to circulate and be reproduced in the decades following the artist’s death.’
Collectors clearly recognised both its historical importance and its aesthetic appeal. As an attractive Netherlandish panel painting and an early copy of a celebrated Renaissance portrait, it attracted strong interest from private buyers and dealers alike. Competitive bidding followed, with several determined bidders, including two leading UK Old Master dealers, competing before the work was eventually knocked down to a European museum for £104,000. Including buyer’s premium, the total reached £130,000, establishing a new house record for Wimbledon Auctions.
What Does This Mean For Manor Clearance Clients?
This remarkable sale perfectly illustrates why experience, specialist knowledge and careful research are so valuable when dealing with antiques and works of art. At Manor Clearance, our expert team of valuers, lead by the renowned Paul Cassar, regularly help clients with probate valuations, house clearances, and consignments to an antique auction house.
While not every painting will achieve a record-breaking result, every valuation deserves the same level of care and professional judgement. Paul Cassar has spent years identifying objects that merit further investigation, ensuring that our clients always receive informed advice.
This exceptional discovery demonstrates how an item that sits mostly overlooked in a family home for years can become valuable once its true significance is recognised. It is exactly this attention to detail that defines the service we provide at Manor Clearance. If you’d like us to value the items in your home, please contact us today.