Organisers of a specially arranged auction in November for country sporting items is keen to attract items from the Welshpool area.
William Lacey, Halls’ paintings expert, is organising the auction on November 2 at the company’s Welsh Bridge saleroom in Shrewsbury. The closing date for entries is Friday, October 7.
Mr Lacey is keen to attract original sporting paintings and prints dating from the 17th century to the present day, signed jockey’s silks, hunting pinks and boots, stirrup cups, sporting guns and militaria, leather luggage and guncases, cartridge magazines and shooting kit, sporting bronzes, top hats and hat boxes, taxidermy, fishing equipment and books related to country sports.
The most noted country sports related item consigned to Halls was a previously unrecorded work by popular 18th century English equestrian artist John Wootton (1682 -1764), which sold for company record of £326,000 last October.
“The painting (pictured) was reputedly commissioned by Henry Cecil (1754-1804), the first Marquess of Exeter,” said Mr Lacey. “It was a very exciting discovery, as there is great interest in Wootton’s horse paintings of this period.”
He is convinced that there are many more valuable treasures just waiting to be discovered in Mid Wales.
“The auction is an ideal opportunity for people to sell unwanted items and also to search through their attics and storerooms for items that they may have inherited or forgotten about.”
To enter items in the auction contact Mr Lacey at Halls on 01743 284777 or e-mail: william.lacey@halls.to.
Picture: The sporting painting by John Wootton (1682 -1764) that sold at Halls for £326,000 last October.